FirstSpear Hires Special Operations Aviation Expert Brian Erb

FirstSpear® Deepens “Built for The X™” Mission with Hire of Special Operations Aviation Expert Brian Erb

FENTON, Mo. (Nov 11th, 2025) – FirstSpear®, the leader in uncompromising equipment for professionals bound for "The X," today announced the appointment of Brian Erb as Director, Aviation Business Development. The strategic hire of the decorated Special Operations aviator brings a career defined by moments of extreme pressure and critical decision-making, the very challenges FirstSpear equipment is engineered to overcome.

A retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 (CW5), Erb brings nearly 30 years of distinguished military aviation experience, including 18 years with the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR (A)). A seasoned MH-47 instructor pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours (over 1,000 in combat and 1,000 under night vision) his career embodies the operational precision and field-tested knowledge that define FirstSpear’s approach. His leadership of the Regimental ALSE (Aviation Life Support Equipment) Shop was pivotal in advancing mission survivability, where he drove the adoption of key aviation and rotary protective systems like the FirstSpear Aviation Body Armor Vest (ABAV) and the Rotary Wing Advanced Tactical Helmet (RATH).

“FirstSpear exists to give operators total confidence in the moments where there is no margin for error. To do that authentically, our team must include professionals who have lived it,” said Scott Carver, Founder and CEO of FirstSpear. “Brian Erb doesn’t just understand ‘The X’; he has navigated it for decades. His expertise makes him a direct partner in readiness, ensuring our design process is always anchored to the unforgiving realities of the mission. He is here to help us uphold our promise: to build and deploy uncompromising equipment for superiority and durability.”

“Throughout my career with the 160th, the safety and effectiveness of fellow Night Stalkers was paramount. I saw firsthand how FirstSpear consistently listened to the operator and delivered equipment that made a real difference for our aircrews," said Brian Erb. "I’m incredibly proud to now join a company that has been so dedicated to our community. My mission here is to use my experience to help drive the next evolution of gear, ensuring our military aviators have the decisive edge in safety, comfort, and lethality for years to come.”

At FirstSpear, Erb will lead efforts to expand aviation partnerships and product integrations. He will be responsible for translating the evolving demands of aviators and aircrews into tangible, life-saving equipment, ensuring the next generation of operators is equipped for their defining moments.

About FirstSpear®: 

Founded in 2010, FirstSpear equips elite military and law enforcement professionals with the most advanced tactical gear in the world. Guided by its "Built for the X" ethos, FirstSpear produces lightweight, mission-focused equipment engineered for the most demanding operational environments.

Our Ethos: Built for The X™

The X represents the extreme moments where only the prepared can stand, where critical decisions define outcomes, and where there’s no margin for error. FirstSpear exists to arm and secure professionals, those bound for these defining moments, with uncompromising equipment built for superiority and durability. We are not just providers of gear but partners in readiness, enabling operators to achieve their mission with total confidence, wherever that mission takes them.

Drawing from the SOF Truths, FirstSpear knows that success in the field is built long before arriving at The X. It’s rooted in readiness, rigorous training, effective partnerships, and gear that withstands the harshest tests.