Dynasafe is the world leader in demilitarization, specializing in the decommissioning of explosive devices, chemical weapons and hazardous materials. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Dynasafe CEO Charles Diggs to gain a deeper understanding of the company.
Charles Diggs’ Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Digg said:
“I began my career in the demilitarization business, destroying weapons shortly after leaving the U.S. Navy, where I worked on the nuclear side of submarines. I spent 12 years destroying chemical weapons for the U.S. Army as a contractor. Eleven years ago, my career path led me to Dynasafe, where I initially served as the U.S. Managing Director. Five years later, I became CEO, and in 2023, I invested in my passion by becoming the owner of Dynasafe.”
“My job is to maintain the big-picture perspective by providing strategic leadership and alignment—hiring the best people, giving them clear goals, and removing obstacles in their way. I focus on ensuring our customers’ missions are fully supported by providing all the tools and assistance they need to succeed. I also maintain strong relationships with government agencies, defense clients, non-profit organizations, and institutional partners. Additionally, I make decisions about where and when to enter new markets and how to allocate our R&D budget for new product development.”
“One of the hardest parts of the job is deciding what not to pursue. We have very intelligent and driven people, but there’s only so much time and energy. We have to prioritize what to tackle now and what to defer for later.”
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Diggs reflected:
“My greatest memories relate to when we complete a job to a high level, which typically means we work ourselves out of a job. That may sound odd, but it means we’ve accomplished our mission. During my time at Dynasafe, we’ve helped numerous countries meet their treaty obligations by destroying all chemical weapons.”
“It’s also incredibly rewarding when we’re told that one of our chambers was used to safely transport an IED away from the public.”
“These are the moments that stand out and make for proud memories, knowing we’ve made the world a safer and cleaner place.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Diggs explained:
“We have two major product lines:
Protection Products – These are our explosive containment chambers, often referred to as ‘bomb chambers.’ They range in size and are designed to safely secure and transport explosive threats in sectors such as EOD/bomb squads, public safety, and transportation.
Demilitarization Products – This equipment is used to safely destroy conventional and chemical munitions with no environmental impact. Our products range from small systems to full-scale destruction chambers and off-gas treatment systems. We design and deliver turnkey plants with unmatched safety, quality, and environmental standards.
We also have a service division that maintains, operates, and supplies parts for both the Protection and Demilitarization product lines.”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently? Diggs acknowledged:
“Our business is heavily reliant on government contracts. This means that during some years, several large orders are placed whilst other years are a little slower. This can strain resources, especially since our engineers are highly specialized and it’s not easy to hire for short-term needs.”
“To manage this, we maintain a core group of employees to ensure we can deliver projects during slower years, and we scale up during peak periods. In between, we focus on support contracts, Protection Products, and investing in R&D.”
“When we face multiple large projects simultaneously, we augment our engineering team through long-standing consultant relationships. One of our best strategies has been calling people out of retirement. At Dynasafe, almost no one fully retires; they become “Friends of Dynasafe” and return for interesting projects or to train new staff.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Diggs noted:
“Dynasafe has been in business since 1991. As the world’s needs have changed, so have our products, our mission remains the same – to protect the world from explosive hazards.”
“We started with only Protection Chambers. In 1997, we delivered our first conventional weapons destruction plant, and in 2006, our first chemical weapons destruction plant. With over 500 protection chambers and 40+ demilitarization plants delivered, we continually learn and improve.”
“Now, we’re developing solutions for destroying underwater munitions and are expanding into other markets within our core competencies.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Diggs about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“On July 7, 2023, the U.S. Chemical Weapons Stockpile was officially destroyed. Dynasafe was proud to contribute to reaching this major milestone not just for the U.S., but for the world.”
Funding
When asking Diggs about the company’s revenue details, he revealed:
“Dynasafe’s 2024 revenue was approximately €55 million. We have seen higher numbers in peak years but this is a strong average revenue for us. We are putting new systems and processes in place with a goal of reaching €100 million in revenue in the next several years.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Diggs affirmed:
“We have proven technology that has been tested and validated time and time again. This is all we do; it is not a small sector of a larger company, this is Dynasafe’s core mission.”
“We have a global proven track record with our products in over 70 countries. We exceed all quality, safety, and environmental standards. We are large enough to take on complex jobs but small enough to make quick decisions. We are good at what we do and what we do is good.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Diggs concluded:
“We will build upon our core mission of making the world a safer and cleaner place while addressing evolving global threats, market demands, and technology advancements.”
“We are expanding our footprint in the United States while broadening our capabilities beyond stockpile munitions into underwater munitions and other industrial hazards. At the same time, we will continue to secure long-term contracts to support our customers in maintaining their products. Strengthening our workforce and talent pipeline remains a priority, along with advancing the maturity of the Dynasafe Business Model to improve customer experience, reduce lead times, and increase the capability and reliability of our products.”
