Chris Smith is the senior instructor for these classes, and will be offering personal training as well. 

Chris’s career spans almost 20 years in U.S. Special Operations, U.S. intelligence/counter-intelligence, and specialized corporate security and risk management consulting in both U.S. Government and the private sector. 

His career began serving in the U.S. Air Force as a Combat Controller supporting both Air Force Special Operations Command and Joint Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg/Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina.  During his military career, Chris received extensive training in small arms and defensive tactics, demolitions, air and water operations, close air support, hostage rescue, and survival tactics.  Chris supported several military campaigns in both the Middle East and Eastern Europe regions, as well as several humanitarian relief efforts.

Shortly after serving in the military, Chris received both an undergraduate and graduate degree in business administration and began employment with a large government contract firm in Washington D.C.  Chris supported a classified government contract with the U.S. State Department, with extensive international travel to over 84 countries worldwide.  Following his government assignment with U.S. DoS, Chris held several management and consulting roles in the private sector either directly supporting or advising corporate security matters for large defense firms supporting the U.S. Department of Defense.  His management roles would eventually lead him to direct the security and risk management efforts for his firm across the entire Americas region in all industry sectors. 

Chris’ education, training and experience specifically related to defensive shooting includes the following: 

U.S. Special Operations Schools

1.   U.S. Army JFK Special Warfare Center/School

  •       Special Forces Combat Diver
  •       Special Forces Combat Diving Supervisor
  •       Military Freefall (HALO/HAHO)
  •       Military Freefall Jumpmaster

 

2.    U.S. Army Ranger School
3.    Special Forces Advanced Reconnaissance, Target Analysis, & Exploitation Techniques Cours(SFARTAETC)
4.    U.S. Army Sniper School, Ft. Benning, Georgia
5.    U.S. Army/Air Force Survival Schools

Advanced Military and Civilian Shooting Schools

1.    Blackwater Training Center, North Carolina

  •       Tactical Pistol I, II
  •       Advanced Skills Handgun
  •       Precision Rifle
  •       Military Advanced Marksmanship
  •       Defensive Driving
  •       Counter-Terrorism Driving

2.    Chapman Academy—Advanced Defense Tactics, Missouri –Expert Marksman
3.    Tailored Defense, Inc; Personal Protection Inside Home, Tennessee
4.    Gunsite Academy, Arizona

  •       Advanced Pistol
  •       Precision Rifle
  •       260 Shotgun

5.    Thunder Ranch, Texas

  •       Defensive Handgun I, II
  •       Defensive Concealed Handgun
  •       Urban Rifle I, II
  •       Defensive Team Tactics
  •       Home & Vehicle Defense

6.    Mid-South Institute of Self-Defense Shooting, Mississippi

  •       Practical Pistol
  •       Sniper & Assault Rifle
  •       Sub-machine gun
  •       Shotgun
  •       Self-Defense and Extreme Fighting

Instructor Training

  1. NRA Certified Instructor
  2. Sig Sauer Academy Semi-Auto Pistol Instructor
  3. State of Tennessee Certified Handgun Instructor
  4. NRA Certified Range Safety Officer
  5. Taser Certified Instructor

 Professional Memberships

  1. National Rifle Association
  2. American Society for Industrial Security
  3. International Association for Counter-Terrorism & Security Professionals