Garett Maxwell
Senior Instructor
Garett is currently a Patrol Officer assigned to a specialized unit working for a municipal law enforcement agency. He has over eight years experience as a police officer in California. During his law enforcement career, he worked several special assignments including:
• Range master / firearms instructor
• Defensive tactics instructor
• Taser instructor
• SWAT Team member
Neighborhood Policing Unit
Garett has obtained several P.O.S.T. Instructor certificates including firearms Pistol / Rifle / Shotgun Instructor, Weaponless Defense Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and TASER instructor. He is an armorer for both Glock pistols and AR rifle platforms. Additionally, he is an NRA certified basic pistol instructor.
Outside the Law Enforcement realm, Garett is a nationally ranked USPSA competitor who shoots in both handgun and other multi-gun competitions.
Joe Labbe
Senior Instructor
Joe is currently a patrol officer with a municipal law enforcement agency in the State of California. He has worked for two law enforcement agencies and has over 13 years experience. Joe has held several specialty and instructor positions including:
* Range master / firearms instructor
* Department armorer (pistol & rifle)
* Inter-agency bomb team technician
*School Resource Officer
Joe is also an NRA member where he has obtained several certificates which include; Basic Pistol & Rifle instructor, Range Safety Officer, and even Chief Range Safety Officer.
When Joe is not teaching, the avid shooter can be found hunting, target shooting, reloading ammo or participating in law enforcement and/or USPSA shooting competitions.
Chris Staup
Instructor
Chris is currently a Patrol Officer for a municipal law enforcement agency. He has over twelve years of law enforcement experience. Throughout his law enforcement career, he has worked several specialty assignments including:
* Range Master/Firearms Instructor
* Field Training Officer
* Gang Investigator
* Peer Support Team Member
*Armorer
*EVOC instructor
Chris has been part of several critical incidents, as an involved officer, a non-involved officer and as an investigator. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice and has numerous training and teaching based California P.O.S.T. certifications. Chris has vast knowledge of all aspects of firearms, specifically the AR rifle platform, precision rifle, and defensive handguns.
Chris is an avid outdoorsman and hunter. He is an accomplished archer and extreme long range, rifle hunter. Chris is a past president of the Redding Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation and a committee member for ten years. He enjoys passing on his hunting knowledge and experience. Chris holds several coaching certificates related to youth and high school sports.
Chris is an NRA life member and is passionate about maintaining the right of individuals, to keep and bear arms.
Shawn "Chili" Villano
Instructor
Shawn is currently a Patrol Sergeant for a state-wide law enforcement agency. He has over 17 years of law enforcement experience. Throughout his law enforcement career, he has worked several specialty assignments including:
* Range Master/Firearms Instructor
* Field Training Officer
*Investigator
* Gang Task Force Investigator
*Protective Services Detail
*Terrorism Liaison Officer
Shawn has obtained several P.O.S.T. and State/National instructor certificates including firearms instructor, Less-Lethal shotgun instructor, Non-Lethal training ammunition instructor, ASP Tactical instructor, USCCA firearms instructor, and TASER Master instructor. He too has been part of several critical incidents, as an involved officer, an investigator, and as a supervisor.
Shawn was also assigned as a member and lead agent of a state dignitary protection detail and has deployed across the state and country during emergencies.
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Walt Bullington
Chief Administrative Officer
Walt is a recently retired Police Sergeant from a municipal law enforcement agency. He previously supervised multiple patrol teams, a specialized unit, and a multi-agency Gang Task Force. He has well over 20 years SWAT experience with assignments including entry team, sniper, team leader, and team Sergeant.
He holds several California P.O.S.T Instructor certificates including Firearms / Pistol / Rifle Instructor, Tactics Instructor and is a certified armorer for several weapons platforms to include pistols, shotguns, and rifles. Walt is a California Department of Justice (DOJ) instructor authorized to issue Firearm Safety Certificates and is also an NRA certified instructor.
Walt is Certified in Site Threat Assessment planning and teaches Workplace Violence/Active Shooter Response to both schools and businesses. He is an expert in advanced first aid and emergency scene management. Walt has extensive training and expertise in the personal protection arena. He is also a California P.O.S.T certified background investigator.
Walt is a lifelong shooter who comes from a long family line of law enforcement officers dating back to the 1940's.
Instructors
Eric Forsberg
Chief Operating Officer
Eric is currently a Sergeant for a municipal law enforcement agency. He has over 19 years law enforcement experience and has worked several special assignments including:
• Homicide / Major Crimes Investigator
• Field Training Officer
• Range Master / Firearms Instructor
• Gang Task Force Investigator
• SWAT Team Member
He has over 20 years tactical/SWAT experience dating back to his time as a Pararescueman and flight paramedic in the U.S. Air Force. He maintains several medic-level and nursing certifications and has a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice
Eric has obtained several California P.O.S.T. Instructor certificates including Firearms / Pistol / Rifle Instructor, Critical Incident / Active Shooter Instructor, Weaponless Defense, Impact Weapons, Defensive Tactics / Arrest Control Instructor and First Aid / CPR Instructor. Eric is a California Department of Justice (DOJ) certified firearms instructor and also an NRA and USCCA certified instructor. He also holds black belts in Krav Maga and Hapkido.
Eric is certified in Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and is sought after to teach Workplace Violence / Active Shooter Response to both schools and businesses.
