Peter Royce Brownell is an American businessman. He is the CEO of Brownells, a supplier of firearm accessories, ammunition and supplies based in Grinnell, Iowa. He is also co-chair and CEO of Brownell's parent company, 2nd Adventure Group. Brownell is well known in his community as a philanthropist. He has supported numerous causes such as renovating a public library, arts programs, building a skate park, planting a community garden, a robotics program at a local high school, a community education program at Grinnell College, and a new emergency center at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center. Brownell attended the University of Iowa. He earned a BBA in Administration and Marketing in 1991 and an MBAin 2001. In 1997, Brownell started work at Brownells, the company started by his grandfather, as an executive vice president. Under his leadership, Brownells expanded rapidly, acquired three other firearms-related businesses, became a defense contractor, created an online store, and moved into retail. Brownell became CEO in January of 2012. Pete Brownell and his father Frank Brownell own various firearm-related businesses through their holding company that they co-chair, 2nd Adventure Group. Pete Brownell serves as CEO. Businesses and brands owned through 2nd Adventure Group include Brownells; Crow Shooting Supply; the Big Springs Shooting Complex in Searsboro, Iowa; W.L. Baumler Company, a national wholesale distributor of hunting supplies and sporting goods based in Ohio; Sinclair International, an online retailer headquartered in Montezuma, Iowa that mainly sells tools for reloading ammunition, cleaning and maintaining firearms, and gun accessories; and AR15.com, an online forum that says it is "the world’s largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types." Brownell served on the NRA's board of directors starting in 2010 but resigned in late May of 2019 due to the demands that position placed on his time. He served as president of the National Rifle Association from May 2017 to May 2018. Brownell is a member of the NRA's Golden Ring of Freedom, the group's biggest donors who are honored with a mustard-colored jacket. As of 2015, Brownell served on the board of Iowa Economic Development Authority.
