"The future of Magpul Dynamics is not in question," said Magpul Industries VP of sales and marketing, Robert Vidrine "but we are evaluating how we will go forward with the carbine training model. Replacing Chris is not plug and play."

"Chris will be moving on in early 2012 to pursue new projects within the industry, including his own training company," Magpul Industries said today. You can read the full text of their announcement below this article.

"I'm proud of what we did at Magpul Dynamics," Costa told me as we spoke about his long association with Magpul Dynamic's parent company, Magpul Industries, and his friendship with Richard Fitzpatrick, the company's president and founder. "We put out a product at Magpul Dynamics that's on par with the high level of quality that Magpul puts into all their products."

"Most people don't know it but Chris's involvement with Magpul dates back to 2003," recalls Fitzpatrick. "Over the years, I developed a great deal of respect for his weapons manipulation aptitude and personality. In 2007 when the opportunity for Magpul to appear on Future Weapons with the Masada developed, Chris was the first person I thought of to help us with the presentation."
more Costa credits Fitzpatrick's vision to offer training and to produce Magpul Dynamic's instructional videos saying, "the amount of money and effort that was put into those videos shows how hard and unselfishly Magpul worked to give guys the training they deserve."

"I'm leaving because the time is right," Costa said, explaining that the timing of his resignation is based on recent family events.

He praised Magpul's willingness to work with him to keep him aboard and offers it as evidence of how strong his relationship remains with the company, even after submitting his intent to resign last week.

Costa's resignation explains the mysterious announcement on Falcon Operations Group's blog about hosting Costa's 3 Day Advanced Carbine (Jan. 5-7) and a 3 Day Advanced Pistol Course (Jan. 9-11) in Southern California.

Costa was hired in 2007 to stand up Magpul Dynamics, the firearms training division of Magpul Industries. Travis Haley was brought on board soon after. Costa and Haley taught firearms manipulation and employment to military, law enforcement and civilian students around the country together until Haley left Magpul in January 2011. Previous to his employment at Magpul, Costa was employed by Applied Marine Technologies where he was a maritime CBRN weapons and tactics instructor.

In addition to teaching classes, Magpul Dynamics spurred a renaissance in the production of tactical training videos with their "Art of the Dynamic Carbine" DVD series. The DVD would become the foundation for later Magpul Dynamics video productions that include instructional video releases on the use of handguns, shotguns, aerial platforms and four upcoming releases including precision shooting, automobile operation and two more undisclosed subjects.

"Today we have actually completed filming and are in the final stages of editing the last titles in the "Art of" video series that Chris has been an instrumental part of," says Fitzpatrick.

He explains that with the completion of the training DVD series and Magpul Dynamics increased focus on military training in the Airborne Operations and Precision Rifle arena, "now is a logical time for Chris to branch out with his own company and pursue other projects in the industry. I wish him the best with his endeavors and am confident that as our brands continue to evolve, opportunities for us to work together in the future will arise."

From the sounds of things, Costa's move is unrelated to two other major events that have recently taken place within Magpul. In a structured financial deal, shareholders of the private company sold a controlling interest in Magpul Industries to investors including Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. ("BRS"), a New York-based private equity firm, this summer. It is also less than a year since the departure of former Magpul Dynamics principle Travis Haley, who left to start his own venture, Haley Strategic Partners.

Here is the full statement from Magpul Industries:

Chris Costa to Branch Out On His Own in 2012
 
Since 2007, Magpul Dynamics has trained thousands of professional and civilian shooters, and reached countless more through a comprehensive collection of instructional DVDs.  With an emphasis on real world techniques, consistency, and efficiency, Magpul Dynamics has brought tactical instruction to the forefront of the shooting community.  The application of these philosophies to high quality multimedia productions has helped propel the entire firearms training industry to new heights, garnering the attention of a larger audience than ever before.
 
The entire instructor cadre has been instrumental in the success of these endeavors, not the least of which has been Chris Costa.  Chris will be moving on in early 2012 to pursue new projects within the industry, including his own training company. Magpul will continue to explore future opportunities to work with Chris, and looks forward to these projects. It has been a privilege to work with Chris for the last five years, and Magpul wishes him the best of luck in the future. The fundamentals of Reality, Consistency, and Efficiency that Chris helped instill are central to the entire Magpul Dynamics instructor cadre, and will continue to drive their training philosophy and mindset.

Keywords: Costa Quits Magpul

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