BADGER INDUSTRIES IS A MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN-OWNED COMPANY.
My name is Mike Etheridge. I am the Founder and CEO of Badger Industries, a nationally recognized designer and manufacturer of high lumen, long running, rugged flashlights.
I am a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, having served a three-year deployment in the Far East as an Avionics Technician and Search & Rescue crew chief; While in the Marines, I received the Marine Corps Leather Neck award, and studied at the University of Maryland where I received a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, from Jones College in Jacksonville, Fl.
After serving in the Marines, I joined the corporate world as a programmer/analysis for the largest bank in Florida and later founded three different companies and administrated a non-profit organization designing organizational outreach programs to the community for disadvantaged teens.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve always sought out where I could serve the greater good - led by the saying “to whom much is given, much will be required” - I became a police officer for the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine Florida. I served as a Patrol Sgt, Training supervisor and department instructor in various disciplines including Use of Force, TASER, Conflict Resolution, Vehicle Operations, Firearms and Active Shooter training. He is also a Florida Department of Law Enforcement Vehicle Operations Subject Matter Expert and High Liability Instructor.
I spent thirteen years as a SWAT team operator with five of those years as the team commander. Numerous times while executing high risk search warrants, I found my operators flashlights, which worked just prior to jump out, either failed at critical points of the operation; or were severely under powered - putting my teammates, innocent civilians, and even the suspects at greater risk. These same flashlights were expensive and some easily broken.
Usually the best products come from living a problem. I needed a better flashlight. A flashlight that was brighter, rugged, with extended charge and run times - and Badger Industries was formed. I put together a team of designers, engineers, a military vet or two, and a kick ass marketing team. We spent hundreds of hours drinking lots of coffee, long days and nights with our engineers, special forces friends, talking to other SWAT operators, street cops, hunters, camping enthusiasts, a couple of priests, and anybody else who used and cared about flashlights.
Using all this knowledge and experience, we transformed an idea into a well-made, rugged, bright as hell flashlight that will stay charged for two years! We are so thrilled with its performance and durability it comes with a five year – no questions asked – warranty. We know once you use our products you’ll agree with us that Badger Flashlights our One. Mean. Light.
Stay safe,
Mike
