American Greatness is built on the strength and power of individuality. We honor and nurture this quality by providing unique experiences to elevate the potential of every one of us.
Where
American
Legends
Are Born
Our Principles
Individuality
Community
We are stronger as a group and look towards building inclusivity that values every person.We celebrate the bonds that bring all who love the sport of shooting together.
Honor
The integrity of our team is derived from the trust we have for each other.
Stewardship
We are dedicated to elevating the world of shooting sports to its highest level of success and participation.
Who We Are
Our company is led by some of America’s greatest shooters and heroes along with highly accomplished business builders, creative thinkers and technology innovators. From elite military operators, law enforcement leaders, and Olympic shooting champions, to architects of billion-dollar businesses and brands, our team’s focus is on creating a culture devoted to expanding our sport, honoring our country and building the true home to American shooting.
Our Purpose
We are dedicated to the greatness within every American. We are building a home to competition shooting sports and unique training and challenges so that each individual can explore their own skills. We look forward to building a sport where shooting legends are made and where individuals explore their skills and talents to find their own greatness.
Meet the PrairieFire Team
Conor serves as the CEO of PrairieFire RANK. He has a passion for leading teams. He seeks missions that are service oriented, people first, and boldly envisioned. He believes the American Spirit can be a source of unity, hope, and opportunity.
Most recently, Conor served as the COO of INSPIRE, an international audiovisual and event services company based in Irving, TX. Prior to that, he was on the portfolio management team for Ashford Inc., a Dallas based alternative asset management company, where he advised operating businesses in the real estate and hospitality sectors. He began his work in the private sector as a management consultant for McKinsey and Company.
Prior to business, Conor served in the US Navy as a SEAL Officer for nine years with multiple combat deployments in the Middle East and Africa.
Conor is an Eagle Scout, an Ironman, and a Presidential Leadership Scholar. He has been recognized as a “40 Under 40” Influential and Inspiring Leader by the Dallas Business Journal. Conor holds a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. He enjoys training for endurance sports, volunteering with his Church, and coaching his kids’ youth sports teams.
Major General (Retired) Mark O’Neil is a distinguished leader and soldier who served for 33 years in the U.S. Army. Mark served in multiple combat leadership positions and is highly decorated. His passion is helping organizations assess potential, select leaders, and mentoring people and private-sector organizations develop enduring leadership and develop programs that can be applied to modern businesses.
Mark’s deep experience in the assessment, selection and training of the US military’s most elite special operations soldiers is now applied to helping PraireFire build programs for our customers. His warm, humble and approachable style of leadership helps organizations develop teams aligned with culture mission and purpose.
Mark believes that chemistry moves mountains, not physics and building relationships based on trust and performance yields lasting improvements. In his 16 years with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Mark became adept at managing ambiguity in decision making, strategic planning, and building partnerships across conventional, inter-agency and special operations portfolios. He believes that simplifying complexity to focus on the mission is a universal competency that can be adopted by any organization. Mark and his wife Wendy are the proud parents of Taylor O’Neil (29) and SGT Riley O’Neil (25), currently serving as an Airborne Ranger.
Military Experience
Commanding General, United States Army Alaska: July 2017 – July 2019
Chief of Staff, United States Army Pacific: May 2016 – June 2017
Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center: March 2015 – May 2016
Deputy Commanding General (Operations), 10th Mountain Division: December 2012 – January 2015
Senior Military Advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Army: August 2011 – December 2012
Command & Key Staff Positions, United States Army Special Operations Command: June 1994 – August 2011
General Robert B. Neller served as the 37th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps from September 2015 to July 2019.
He retired from active duty in 2019. A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Neller graduated from the University of Virginia in 1975 with a degree in history and speech communication. He later earned a master’s degree from Pepperdine University in human resources management. After graduating from Virginia, Neller went directly into the Marine Corps via the Platoon Leader Class.
He retired from active duty in 2019. A native of East Lansing, Michigan, Neller graduated from the University of Virginia in 1975 with a degree in history and speech communication. He later earned a master’s degree from Pepperdine University in human resources management. After graduating from Virginia, Neller went directly into the Marine Corps via the Platoon Leader Class.
A career Infantry Officer, Neller has commanded from Platoon through Service Component HQs. He has been assigned as a General Officer in each of the three USMC active infantry Divisions and commanded the 3rd Marine Division. He is a joint qualified Officer having served in Europe at SHAPE as a NATO staff officer and as the J3 of the Joint Staff. Operationally, he participated in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Operation Restore Hope in Somalia and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In OIF 05-07 during 2006, he served as the Deputy Commanding General for Multi-National Force West in Iraq’s Anbar Province.
He has attended the USMC’s Basic School, the Army’s Armor Officer Advanced Course, USMC Command and Staff, the NATO Defense College and the Armed Forces Staff College.
Upon retirement he moved to the Austin, Texas area where he is involved in consulting, teaching, motivational speaking and serving as the Chairman of the Board of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.
Lanny Barnes is a three-time Olympian in the sport of Biathlon, World & National Champion in several other shooting disciplines. Lanny teaches military, law enforcement and competitive shooters how to maximize their physiological and psychological performance. Lanny has been an instructor for more than 20 years and trains athletes in Nordic skiing, biking, marathons, triathlons, and all shooting disciplines. Lanny is the consummate athlete, coach and competitor and she brings unique approaches to our training and competition programs.
Lanny is an accomplished artist and has been creating art since 2000. Her work can be viewed at www.theolympianartist.com. Lanny and her twin sister have competed together in multiple Olympics, and spend their free time mentoring at schools, 4-H clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs, Boys & Girls Scouts on the importance of following their dreams, setting goals, and leading a healthy active lifestyle. Lanny and her sister guide terminally ill children and wounded veterans on hunting and outdoor adventures.
Retired Master Chief Hans Hansen served in multiple operational leadership roles in the US Navy, including serving as a Command Master Chief for an east coast SEAL Team. He deployed numerous times during his 21 years of service. After retiring in 2009 he started a second career focused on leadership and professional development training for the US military and private sector. Hans specializes in instructor development and curriculum design. He provides consulting services on organizational design and change management programs for multiple clients. He is an avid shooter, skier, and photographer. Hans’ passion is coaching new and experienced shooters.