Colton Kyle Talks Legacy, Faith, and the All-New WX JAKL American Sniper Signature Series
By Devin Pangaro
Colton Kyle, son of legendary Navy SEAL and Chris Kyle, is forging his own path through the American Sniper brand while honoring the legacy his father left behind. Cut from the same cloth of duty, resilience, and honor, Kyle has partnered with Wiley X to launch the WX JAKL – American Sniper Signature Series — a purpose-built, limited edition eyewear that blends rugged durability and tactical performance with everyday wear. This collaboration represents so much more than what’s on the surface, it’s a tribute to his father’s enduring impact and all those who put their service to this country first.
GOVX: Colton, thanks for joining us today. Your father Chris Kyle earned his nickname 'The Legend' for his exemplary service as a Navy SEAL, serving four tours in Iraq. He also was well known to use Wiley X in the field, specifically The Saint ANSI model. What was the inspiration behind American Sniper’s collaboration with Wiley X? And how did it come to be?
Colton Kyle: Thanks for having me. I have a good friend who worked with Wiley X in the past, and to keep a story short, he made the introduction with an eye towards the company sponsoring a documentary on our family.
Through our working relationship, I was struck by just how amazing the team at Wiley X was to work with. Just incredible people through and through. We formed a strong connection, and I made the visit to their headquarters on multiple occasions to see the work they did firsthand.
As you said, my dad wore Wiley X, and we keep his old glasses in our home. When the idea for a collaboration began to form, I kept coming back to the fact that they were his chosen eyewear and ultimately it just made perfect sense.
Today, I run American Sniper. My goal is to continue to build the company around the values that my father and I share. Wiley X was the first to be like -- let’s make something happen here, and it all aligned.
They wanted to do right by my dad and our family. Once we got down to the specifics, they really made a point in the design stage to pay homage to my dad with callouts to the Saint's original design. It was a really good match from the start.
GOVX:
How closely were you and your family involved with the design process?
Colton Kyle:
We were blessed by the fact that the JAKLs are basically the next iteration of the Saints. So, it made for a really great fit with the timing. That’s a blessing in itself.
There’s only so much you can tweak when there’s already a model that you’re working with. But I told them what I wanted. I was like – hey, can we get the Bone Frog on here? Can the American Sniper logo go there?
What was truly brilliant was that they were able to incorporate my dad’s signature into the final design seamlessly. They took all our input, they ran with it, and they created a few different versions and presented them to us. It was a collaborative effort, but their design team is beyond talented and in the end, we made a really great and unique product.
GOVX:
You mentioned the Bone Frog logo, can you tell us a little about the background behind it?
Colton Kyle:
Absolutely, great question. I made a post on my page recently, because the logo raises a lot of questions and has more significance than most people realize.
Basically, looking at the logo you notice the trident which is synonymous with the SEALs, but diving deeper and you’ll also notice the limbs of the Bone Frog are made up of a crusader cross that my dad had tattooed on his arm. The Bone Frog itself is a representation of fallen frog men. As you may know, SEALs are known as frog men for their amphibious nature.
Finally, the cross over the right eye is to honor a man named Ryan Job. He was my dad’s teammate and friend, who injured his right eye during combat. He survived multiple surgeries when he returned to the states, but sadly passed away a few years later. This is the way we honor him and the men who’ve sacrificed so much.
My mom worked with some designers to get it done. It encapsulates what our brand is about and what our family is about. It’s heavy on values and heavy on symbolism.
GOVX:
Your dad was an American hero, and a legend in the field. The signature shades feel very much like another branch of his legacy. What do you think your dad would think about this collaboration?
Colton Kyle:
My dad was never really one for attention, which is ironic because the men who wear these are the ones you want to have attention, because they're going to do all the right things with it.
So, I can imagine him being a little overwhelmed with it all, before adjusting to the fact that these are made for Americans like him. More than that, I know he’d be proud of me and the team. I have a lot of confidence in that because I knew who he was.
He was a wonderful father and husband, and even though I only had eight years with him, I know that he would be stoked that I’m able to do this. He would take pride in continuing to provide for his family even though he's gone. It’s not so much that I’m continuing his legacy, as much as it is that I’m continuing his legacy of service, of service to country, to fellow service members, and to honoring the values that he lived his life by.
GOVX:
When did you first realize the weight and impact of your dad's service to this country?
Colton Kyle:
The first time was during the funeral procession. He was first and foremost, my dad. Yeah, he had a cool job, and he did some cool stuff, but I wasn't fully aware of the scale of it.
Before the procession, I was overwhelmed with grief and unable to take it all in. But, I do remember the 20-mile drive to Dallas for the services at AT&T Stadium. There were people lined up by the sides of the highway the whole way there. We had a big police escort and firetrucks were set-up on the side of the bridges with American flags proudly on display.
It was incredibly impactful to see that. As I grew up, and as I've met more people, I've continued to hear how much my dad meant to them. It blows me away.
GOVX:
What was your first impression when you saw the shades? What feelings did you have?
Colton Kyle:
I was extremely excited. I had worn Wiley X before, and I was always inspired by how they continued to adapt with the times for their models.
To see the JAKLs modernized and customized the way we discussed felt really personal to me. It was really surreal. I mean, just knowing that other people are going to appreciate that and wear them with honor is what it's all about.
GOVX:
From a technical feature or a build standpoint, what are you most impressed by?
Colton Kyle:
The ballistic rating first and foremost. I wear Wiley X for everything, and it’s special to have a lifestyle pair that’s also ballistic graded. If I wanted to use them at the range or out hunting, I’m able to do that. It’s really impressive to me considering how often sunglasses brands sacrifice design and looks for functionality and practicality. With Wiley X you never have to deal with that.
GOVX:
Can you speak a little bit about the importance of partnering with a company like Wiley X who is not only well-trusted amongst the military and first responder communities, but also values honoring and recognizing those who serve?
Colton Kyle:
Definitely, it’s of the greatest importance. I feel like I have a great duty in protecting the legacy of my father, and if I want to build a brand of integrity with people who want to honor that, then it’s important for me to ensure that whatever I’m doing is quality.
So I never want to compromise on that. When I got into a room with the Wiley X team and really got to know them, learn about their history and how they're Veteran-owned and operated, it showed me that they’re not in the business of selling out.
They really care about this. They’re not in it for the government contract. They’re in this to protect people and I cannot understate the importance of that. I resonate with any company that provides a service to those who serve while delivering the quality they deserve.
GOVX:
The GOVX community is currently about 10 million strong. And it’s safe to say good majority are going to be familiar with your dad’s story. What message would you have for any member interested in purchasing the JAKL?
Colton Kyle:
Just gratitude. I’m full of gratitude that people have an emotional connection to my father, his legacy, and that I get to step into that and steward it. I’m a man of faith and I pray all the time. I just want to continue to steward whatever God gives me.
GOVX:
Colton, thanks again for your time today. Before we finish up, can you let us know what the next steps are for American Sniper as a brand?
Colton Kyle:
For sure, thanks for having me. We're really enjoying working with Wiley X. That said, we’re continuing to push into the tactical side of things. Again, our mission is to provide value to those who love this country and our faithful patriots, and to all those who actively serve in a military or first responder role.
My vision is to continue to build out the American Sniper brand around our values, which are godliness, patriotism, passion, service, and excellence. These are the pillars of American Sniper. Today, we give back to non-profits close to us, and help support those in the military and first responder community who may be facing marital or family troubles through The Taya and Chris Kyle Foundation.
