From Combat Veteran to Business Owner: How DARKWING TECH Solves Real-World Safety Problems

From Service to Solutions: The Story Behind DARKWING TECH

Retirement wasn’t a choice I wanted to make, but health reasons made it inevitable. After 24 years as a Marine Corps combat veteran, SWAT team commander, and police supervisor, stepping away from a career devoted to serving and protecting was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Throughout my career, I was always focused on solving problems—whether it was safeguarding the public, leading a team during high-risk SWAT operations, or supervising officers on dangerous roadside calls. That responsibility didn’t just leave me when I retired. It’s what drove me to create DARKWING TECH: a way to keep serving by providing solutions to the safety challenges I had seen firsthand.

The Partnership: Teaming Up with JBC Safety Plastics™

One of the most pressing problems I faced as a police supervisor was roadside officer safety, particularly when it came to traffic control. Officers often rely on a combination of emergency vehicle lights, high-visibility clothing, and traffic cones to manage hazards. But as I mentioned earlier, not all cones are created equal, and most departments simply don’t have the budget for high-grade traffic control tools.

To address this issue, I partnered with companies like JBC Safety Plastics™, a leader in high-quality traffic cones and traffic control equipment. Their products are:

• Built for High-Speed Roadways: Heavy-duty and rated for high-speed traffic, these cones stay visible and in place even under challenging conditions.

• Designed for Advanced Warning: High-grade reflective materials and superior durability help provide motorists with clear, early guidance, reducing confusion and enhancing safety.
  

By working with trusted partners like JBC Safety Plastics™, DARKWING TECH is able to offer products that meet the safety needs of officers, first responders, and other professionals—without the excessive cost that often deters departments from making these critical investments.

The Inspiration: Creating the OWL Lights

One of the biggest challenges I faced as a patrol supervisor was ensuring the safety of my officers during roadside incidents. The risks were constant, whether it was an accident scene, a hazard on the roadway, or a traffic stop. Officers often had minimal tools to protect themselves from distracted or confused motorists—especially at night or during poor weather conditions.

Emergency lights on patrol vehicles help, but they have significant limitations:

• Limited Reach: Emergency vehicle lights are effective for marking the car’s location but don’t always give drivers advanced warning, especially on high-speed roadways.

• Driver Confusion: In poor visibility conditions like fog, heavy rain, or snow, flashing emergency lights can become overwhelming or disorienting, leaving motorists unsure of where to go.

• Lack of Mobility: Since emergency lights are fixed to the vehicle, they can’t be repositioned to create a wider safety zone or provide better guidance.
  

I spent countless nights worrying about how to improve visibility and give motorists clearer, earlier warnings to protect both my officers and the public. That’s when the idea for OWL lights was born—a product designed to address these exact issues and much more.

What Are OWL Lights?

The OWL lights (Operational Warning Lights) are compact and highly visible safety tools designed to serve various functions. While they were initially inspired by the need for better roadside safety solutions, their versatility makes them invaluable in many other settings as well.

Key Features and Benefits:

1. Portable and Flexible

   • OWL lights can be deployed anywhere—on the ground, mounted to equipment, or even handheld—giving officers complete control over placement. This flexibility allows them to create wider safety zones, guide traffic, or highlight specific hazards.

2. Highly Visible

   • Available in multiple colors and featuring bright, attention-grabbing LEDs, OWL lights are effective in all conditions, including low light, heavy rain, fog, or snow.

3. Reusable

   • Unlike disposable chem sticks or road flares, OWL lights are reusable, reducing waste and saving money over time. They’re built tough to withstand the demands of law enforcement, military, and emergency response work.

4. Durable and Weatherproof

   • OWL lights are designed to handle tough environments. They’re water-resistant, impact-resistant, and built for both indoor and outdoor use, making them reliable in virtually any situation.
     

OWL Lights: A Versatile Chem light Alternative

In addition to their use in roadside safety, OWL lights are an excellent alternative to traditional chem lights (or glow sticks). Chemlights have long been used in military, law enforcement, and emergency settings for marking pathways, identifying hazards, or signaling cleared rooms in tactical operations. However, as single-use items, they come with significant drawbacks—including waste, limited duration, and ongoing costs.

How OWL Lights Improve Upon Chem lights:

• Multi-Use Design: Unlike single-use chem lights, OWL lights can be reused over and over, making them a more sustainable and cost-effective option.

• Marking Pathways: OWL lights can be placed along pathways to indicate safe routes for teams, whether during building searches, evacuation operations, or nighttime navigation.

• Identifying Hazards: Use OWL lights to clearly mark hazardous areas, such as unstable debris, live wires, or contaminated zones.

• Room Clearing: In tactical operations, OWL lights can be used to signal that a room has been cleared or to mark danger zones for incoming personnel.

• Extended Use: Unlike chem lights, which typically last between 4-12 hours, OWL lights offer significantly longer runtime and can be recharged for future use.
  

Why OWL Lights Are a Game-Changer

The versatility of OWL lights makes them ideal for a range of applications across law enforcement, military, and emergency response:

• Roadside Safety: Provide advanced warning to motorists and create safer conditions for officers and first responders.

• Building Searches: Mark cleared rooms or hazardous areas during tactical operations.

• Disaster Response: Illuminate safe pathways or signal critical zones in large-scale emergencies.

• Military Operations: Use OWL lights for covert signaling, marking drop zones, or identifying safe landing areas.

• General Safety: OWL lights are perfect for any scenario where visibility, marking, or guidance is critical.
  

Continuing the Mission

At DARKWING TECH, my mission is clear: to address real-world safety challenges with practical, affordable solutions. Whether it’s partnering with companies like JBC Safety Plastics™ to bring better traffic control tools to the market or creating innovative products like the OWL lights, everything we do is designed with one goal in mind—saving lives and making the job safer.