About Us

 

Gilliam Technical Services (GTS)

Our Commitments

1. Safety is our highest priority.
2. We will only sell well-tested armor.
3. We will treat every customer with respect.
4. Transparency, honesty, and responsiveness are paramount.

Our Story

I am a custom armor builder. I have built armor for all sorts of customers: the general public, members of Congress and VIPs. I use silicon carbide and aluminum oxide ceramics with Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight-Polyethylene (UHMWPE) backing materials designed by a number of providers.  We have the internal capability to consolidate our own UHMWPE, especially with complex shapes. I use proprietary, Made in USA, eco-friendly and powerful adhesives that are designed to limit polyethylene exposure to high temperatures related to degradation.

We specialize in custom ceramic armor made to precise measurements.  However, we do offer well constructed production armor at the very best price points where possible.  

I started Gilliam Technical Services (GTS) after discovering that bullet resistant products were out of financial reach for most of the public. I want to make protection affordable for everyone - especially in an increasingly violent society.

In 1996, I joined the Norfolk Police Department in Virginia. I was awarded the Kit Hurst Award, Honor Graduate, several commendations and Lifesaving Medal.  I also earned a Master Marksmanship award. My main duty was patrol work, but I also worked the warrant car and vice-narcotics details.

I eventually left the force to start my own aviation business (Chesapeake Bay Helicopters). For twenty years, I flew airplanes and helicopters under contract with large utility companies. During those years I earned various certifications, served as an FAA Designated Airman Examiner and Chief Pilot for 133 and 141 programs. I am an Airline Transport Pilot, Flight Instructor in airplanes and helicopters, an Advanced Ground Instructor, Instrument and have thousands of flight hours in helicopters and airplanes.  Most of my time is in Hughes and MD 500D/E, Bell Jet Ranger 206, Schweizer 300 series and Cessna 207s. I am also a Remote Pilot for small Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I have worked on energized power lines (230kV and 500kV).

Our company was the first in the world to operate helicopter based platforms equipped with LiDAR, infra-red, day TV, nadir, oblique imaging and Corona (arcing) technology simultaneously.  I was one of the first members of the airborne remote sensing world as it began in the early 2000's following an electrical blackout in New England.

I attended Embry Riddle University and earned a Master's Degree in Aviation Safety. I published a research paper on aviation safety that is a popular download for research papers.  The paper was published in the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerospace and can be found: Mindspace and Development of Organizational Culture in Aviation Safety Management.

I have also worked as an aviation intelligence analyst with the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and have been published in several aviation trade publications. Here's one example from Rotor and Wing Magazine.

During this journey, we have continued to grow and develop Gilliam Technical Services (GTS).  As I developed an eye disease called glaucoma, I chose to leave the flying behind and focus on building GTS. My family has been instrumental in our endeavor and they deserve a lot of the credit.

My interest in body armor is more than superficial.  Simultaneous with my aviation years, I have been testing armor for over twenty-five years and actively building custom ceramic armor plates for over ten years. I started by having our designs built overseas with quality materials and noticed that there were potential improvements to increase performance. I have engaged in custom work for all sorts of projects throughout the years: pistol resistant belly bands for concealed handgun carry, high performance enhancements for helmets and neck protection and many other projects. We were one of the first companies to offer a "bulletproof t-shirt" back in 2014. Some of our custom work is detailed in the images below.

How did an aviation career aid me in the body armor world?  Aviation safety systems require root cause analysis (RCS).  RCS requires systems design that reduces risks to minimally acceptable levels.  This eye toward a reduction in vulnerabilities has aided us in the development of redundant armor designs.

Here's our complete mission statement:

Performance saves lives.

Our mission is to bring affordable body armor to the public that is dependable and predictable. We accomplish this by bringing excellent ballistic materials to the most well-informed community in the body armor industry.

We match or beat the performance of the other armor brands, hands down at our price point.  That's why we post every single one of our ballistic test reports.

We are now manufacturing hard armor plates in North Carolina, USA - from the best, long-standing, high quality, global materials.  The bottom line is this: performance speaks for itself.

We add things others don't: crack arresting plates, adhesive between mosaic tiles to enhance multi-shot performance, wear face trauma reduction plates and other special performance enhancements. These components mean that we work with thermoplastic carbons and aramids, even some graphene. We are constantly stepping up our game and improving our product lines.

At our price points, we offer the strongest and best-performing plates on the market - without a doubt. We are also the most transparent in the industry today.  We post all of our testing data related to on market armor products. You don't see this very often. Click NIJ Testing Data for our testing data from NIJ-approved labs. A better way to view the test reports is to click on the links within the product descriptions themselves so that you can view the actual .pdf files.

For more information on our supply chain, please click GTS Strategy and Supply Chain.

W. Gilliam