Gunsite actively searches out the very best firearms instructors.
Gunsite Instructors are highly trained men and women who have the skill, practical experience and complete understanding of defensive shooting. They have a background of military, law enforcement or have a high degree and experience of training in their field. Many have been on our faculty since Jeff Cooper was the lead instructor at Gunsite. They are active and retired Marines, Special Forces, Navy, Army and Air Force from Enduring Freedom, Viet Nam and Law Enforcement Agencies around the Country.
Gunsite Instructors
Clint Achziger
Clint Achziger is currently a Police Officer for the Santa Ana (CA) Police Department and holds the position of the Firearm’s and Tactics Training Coordinator. Clint has 24 years of experience as a … Read More »
Ted Ajax
Ted Ajax founded and served as medical director of the TEMS (Tactical Emergency Medical Support) Unit of the Cascade County Sheriffs Office Tactical Response Team (SWAT), as well as serving as an … Read More »
Matt Avenatti
Matthew Avenatti is a law enforcement officer in northern New Jersey. He served 26 years with the New Jersey State Police and retired as a Lieutenant/ Station Commander. Matt served in several units … Read More »
Joe Avila
Joe is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and served 36 years in law enforcement. He served 27 years with the Los Angeles Police Department. He spent all of his career there in high crime districts; working … Read More »
Dave Bahde
Lieutenant Dave Bahde (retired) has been a professional firearms instructor and consultant for over two decades. He has assisted tactical teams and police departments in firearms selection, … Read More »
Jerrod Baugh
Jerrod Baugh is a 20 year police officer in Indiana and is a field supervisor for investigations and training. His Law Enforcement Academy Instructor certifications are in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, … Read More »
Daniel J. Bilodeau
Daniel J. Bilodeau served in the US Air Force and then accepted a position as a Federal Agent with the US Dept of Energy. During his career with the US DOE he served in several capacities and after … Read More »
Freddie Blish
Freddie Blish is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Marine Corps, where he served 24 years. He has served multiple combat tours and deployed globally in operational, instructional and … Read More »
Scott Burgess
Scott Burgess is a retired Army Mustang who spent 27 years in both Infantry and Aviation branches. His work with both US and foreign armies in tactical training supported NATO and PACOM operations. He … Read More »
Ken Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Gunsite Academy
Sheriff (Ret.) Ken Campbell had over 35 years of experience at the Boone County Indiana Sheriff’s Office in Central Indiana when he retired in 2014. His duties have included: Special Response Team … Read More »
Schylar Cloudt
Schylar served 10 years as an Infantryman in the US Army including 4 years as an Infantry Squad Leader during Operation Enduring Freedom. Schylar is a fully licensed outfitter in AZ, CO and NM with … Read More »
Guy Coursey
Guy Coursey retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2014 after 23 years as a Combat Engineer officer, including tours to OIF and OEF. During his service he received multiple … Read More »
Chris Currie
Chris Currie is a retired Gunnery Sergeant with 21 years in the United States Marine Corps, 17 years within the Reconnaissance community, 13 of those years with 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. Chris … Read More »
Jeff Dooley
Jeff Dooley is a law enforcement officer in Middle Tennessee with 23 years of experience. Jeff has served in numerous units, including the Crime Suppression and Narcotics units, SWAT and K-9 units, … Read More »
Matt Eagleston
Matt Eagleston was a deputy sheriff and village police officer in New York from 1999 through 2001. He then spent 20 years with the Connecticut State Police, retiring in 2021. His assignments with the … Read More »
Pete Feeney
Pete is a Captain with a suburban Philadelphia police department with over 25 years experience in law enforcement. He is currently second in command of the police department with responsibility for … Read More »
Paul Garcia
Paul Garcia served 32 years in California law enforcement, retiring at the rank of Sergeant. He worked numerous specialty assignments including Departmental Range Master, SWAT Team Leader, Auto Theft … Read More »
Erick Gelhaus
A Gunsite instructor since 2001, Erick is a range master for pistol, shotgun, carbine, and tactics classes. His service in the Army as an infantryman includes a combat deployment as a heavy weapons … Read More »
Lew Gosnell
Lew served in the Marine Corps from 1976 to 1983 in Artillery and Military Police. He served in East Los Angeles as a police officer and Sergeant, retiring after 31 years, working patrol, detectives, … Read More »
Monte Gould
Monte served 27 ½ years in Law Enforcement & Corrections, 22 years in SWAT, retiring honorably. His assignments included but not limited to; Assault team leader, Master instructor for SWAT, … Read More »
Aimee Grant
Aimee Grant is a former Marine Corps military police Officer and Marksman. She dedicated 15 years serving as a Law Enforcement Officer in Southern California. She worked various assignments during her … Read More »
John Hall
John Hall is a Range Master for Gunsite and instructs Pistol, Carbine, Shotgun, and numerous specialty courses. He has eight years of service as an infantryman with the U.S. Army and National … Read More »
Bill Halvorsen
Bill Halvorsen retired in 2002 after 27 years in law enforcement with LAPD and Glendale CA. Police Departments. During his career he worked Patrol, Special Enforcement Detail, Detectives and … Read More »
Dave Harris
Dave Harris has been an active duty California law enforcement officer since 1980. He has worked numerous specialty assignments including Firearms and Tactics Instructor, Academy Instructor, Gang … Read More »
Dave Hartman
The Director of Training for Gunsite Academy, Dave Hartman is a former U.S. Marine and a 27-year veteran of the Orange County California Sheriff’s Department. He retired as a Patrol Sergeant in … Read More »
Steve Hendricks
Steve Hendricks’ experience in the use of force includes over 30 years as a Martial Arts Instructor, Firearms Rangemaster and Certified Defensive Tactics Instructor. He has 16 years experience as a … Read More »
John Hutchison
John Hutchison retired from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office as a Sergeant. He served as a Patrol Supervisor and S.W.A.T. Team Leader. John was an AZPOST Defensive Tactics and Firearms Instructor. … Read More »
Eric Ingersoll
Eric is a retired Lieutenant with the Stockton Ca Police Department. During his career as an officer he worked the Street Crimes Unit, Traffic Unit, and the Problem Oriented Policing Team. His duties … Read More »
Joe Knapp
Joe Knapp retired from the United States Marine Corps as a Colonel with over 24 years of service, including tours at Weapons Training Battalion (MCRD Parris Island), and as a Combat Advisor to the … Read More »
Ken Koch
Ken Koch is a retired Chief of Police with 30 years of service in Northern Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado. Highlights of his law enforcement career include more than 20 years of experience in … Read More »
Paul Kultala
Paul Kultala has been an adjunct instructor at Gunsite since 1996 and teaches pistol, rifle, carbine, shotgun and tactical medicine. Paul retired from the Chandler (AZ) Police Department January 2018. … Read More »
Jason Lovett
Jason Lovett is a law enforcement officer in Middle Tennessee with 21 years of experience. Jason has served in numerous units, including the Crime Suppression, Drug Task Force, SWAT and K-9 units, and … Read More »
Steve Lyseczko
Steve J Lyseczko has more than 23 years of experience in the USAF Security Police. Much of Lyseczko’s experience has been in Combat Small Arms, training and management positions, from NCOIC of … Read More »
Mario Marchman
Mario Marchman retired as a sergeant with the Glendale, CA., Police Department with over thirty years of service. His duties included Patrol, Narcotics Investigator, and Supervisor of various details … Read More »
Jerry McCown
Jerry McCown is a retired Arizona law enforcement officer. During his forty-one years of service, he worked in Patrol, Investigations, Traffic Services, SWAT, and for several years was the commander … Read More »
Charlie McNeese
Charlie McNeese retired from the AZ. Department of Public Safety after serving 33 years. He was the Department’s Master Firearms Instructor and Senior Armorer. He received a Master Firearms Instructor … Read More »
Vince Morgan
Vince Morgan retired from the Columbia (TN) Police Department after 28 1/2 years of service. Vince served in Patrol, Crime Suppression Unit, Narcotics, S.W.A.T., Firearms Unit and retired as Patrol … Read More »
Il Ling New
Il Ling New grew up hunting and fishing, and started guiding for her father’s outfitting service as a teenager. She received her first guide’s license at age 17. Later, she became the first … Read More »
Tim O’Connor
Tim manages product development for Nosler Inc. and has worked in the hunting and shooting industry for over 25 years, training with law enforcement and military around the world. Tim started in … Read More »
Matt Ostrander
Matt Ostrander is a 12-year military veteran of the United States Marine Corps. During his time in the Marines, he served as a non-commissioned officer in the Infantry, a commissioned officer in the … Read More »
Jerry Parsley
Sheriff Jerry Parsley is the sheriff of Clark County IL, with 36 years experience. Jerry began his career as a patrol deputy, and sergeant before being elected sheriff. He was the deputy in charge … Read More »
James Queisner
James Queisner is a law enforcement officer in the Denver Metro area with 18 years of experience all in the metro area. He has served in numerous units, including Patrol, Investigations, SWAT, and the … Read More »
Verlin Rector
Verlin Rector is an active Reserve Deputy with the San Juan County Sheriff`s Office in Aztec New Mexico. Verlin spend over 12 years as a full time Deputy and State Court Bailiff where he specialized … Read More »
Gary Smith
Gary’s love for shooting brought him to Gunsite and a love for teaching kept him here. Gary Smith got his introduction to shooting from his dad at the age of 3; And by the age of 7 he was hunting. … Read More »
Steve Tarani
A Gunsite Instructor and Range Master for over 20 years, Steve Tarani and has served the U.S. Defense, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence communities for over 35 years as a respected subject-matter … Read More »
Steve Temerlin
Steve Temerlin MD has been practicing Emergency Medicine for over 40 years. He worked in the civilian community for 10 years before joining the US Navy. During his 22 year Naval career he earned … Read More »
Jay Tuttle
Jay Tuttle spent 10 years with a central Indiana law enforcement agency, serving as a Patrol Officer, and Firearms and Defensive Tactics Instructor. He is currently an Adjunct Instructor at the … Read More »
Ken Tuttle
Ken Tuttle was a federal law enforcement officer with 33 years service with Department of Homeland Security agencies. He was a founding member of US Border Patrol and US Customs tactical teams with … Read More »
Randy Watt
Randy retired as the Chief of Police from the Ogden Police Department in Ogden, Utah. With 32-years of service, Randy served in all operational components of the department, as well as serving 12 … Read More »
Walt Wilkinson
Walter Wilkinson served 30 years with the US Army, 26 of those with Special Operation Forces, retiring as a Sergeant Major. As a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant he trained foreign troops all across … Read More »
