Since 2009, our mission has been to serve America and its allies with innovative, high-quality solutions. We are dedicated to excellence in three core segments: Products, Logistics, and Integrations.
The Beginning
Phokus Research Group was born from a problem in the field. During his career with Naval Special Warfare, Rob Hanna learned firsthand that necessity drives innovation. In the middle of an “Over the Beach” evolution off the California coast, fighting waves and current, he created a better way to cut free a Zodiac’s parachute lines. This simple idea sparked both an invention and a lifelong passion for improving life-saving tools.
But success didn’t come easily. Without business experience, Rob found himself watching others benefit from his innovations. That hard lesson shaped a core belief that guides us today: no one wins alone.
The Meeting
In 2008, as the U.S. economy crashed, a group of CEOs arrived in Coronado, California, for a leadership program run by current and former special operations members. Modeled after Navy SEAL training, the course pushed participants past their physical and mental limits.
Teams were organized by height, and Danny Stein, a New York entrepreneur known for building multimillion-dollar companies, landed on the “Smurf Team.” Over four grueling days, his team battled its way to victory under the leadership of one person: Rob Hanna.
Stein quickly recognized Rob’s talent, grit, and a new invention he had just developed - The Hoplite. What followed was the start of a trusted partnership.
The Company
Rob and Danny’s friendship rapidly became a business alliance built on mutual respect. Rob brought battlefield-driven innovation - ideas like the Under Armor Trauma Kit, inspired directly by the needs of deployed service members. Danny brought the experience and business acumen to build and scale companies that matter.
Together, they shaped Phokus Research Group into what it is today:
A world-class creator, manufacturer, and distributor of mission-critical products for the men and women who protect us.
Today, Phokus continues to serve America and its allies by delivering durable, purpose-built solutions - engineered in the trenches, by our heroes, for our heroes.