John Chapman
Director of Training

John Chapman (Chappy) is a retired police Lieutenant from Northern California currently serving as a high risk security professional. Additionally he has served as a Sergeant, Field Training Officer, SWAT Operations and Training Officer and Chief Firearms Instructor. Prior to entering the law enforcement field, John worked as a private security contractor, servicing training and physical security contracts in the public and private sector.  John is also experienced in the private training field, having served as the Director of Training for a large international training firm.

John has trained under some of the most demanding instructors in the world, and has successfully completed scores of patrol, advanced, tactical and instructor level firearms training courses.  John is a POST and FLETC certified Firearms Instructor, Tactical Rifle Instructor, Less Lethal Munitions Instructor, SWAT Instructor, and is a POST-certified Tactical Commander.



Troy Price
Deputy Director of Training

Troy has twenty years of service as a United States Marine. Initially joining the Marine Corps in 1987 as an Infantryman, he has served as a Rifleman, Machine Gunner, Team Leader, Squad Leader, Special Reaction Team Member, and Scout Team Leader. He has also trained with many of the top instructors in the private firearms industry in addition to most of the leading military instructors in the world. A combat proven Marine, Troy has also served as an Instructor for Military Operations in Urban Terrain/Basic Urban Skills Training, Tactical Rifle Instructor, Combat Pistol Instructor, Convoy Instructor, Support and Stability Operations Instructor, Training Officer, and Operations Officer.



Jeff Hogan
Senior Law Enforcement Instructor

Jeff is a Police Officer in New Mexico with over twelve years of sworn service. Jeff has served on the regional SWAT Team for the last ten years, with eight as the Team Leader. He is an accredited instructor for SWAT, Active Shooter Response, Firearms, and General Police Training.

Jeff is also a former contract instructor for the State Department Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program and the Department of Energy. Jeff's training also includes: WMD Response, Tactical Lifesaver, Clandestine Meth Labs, Counterdrug Operation Surveillance Supervision, Crisis Negotiator, Instructor Development, and numerous other subjects.



Jason Little
Senior Sniper Instructor

Jason little is a former Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) from the 75th Ranger Regiment. Jason has five combat deployments as a US Army Ranger, including three deployments as a member of the Battalion Sniper Platoon. During his time in the US Army, Jason had the opportunity to train with a variety of special operations units from around the world. He received foreign jump wings from Denmark, Belgium, Portugal, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Following his departure from the US Army in early 2005, Jason began working in the high threat protective security industry. He has worked on a variety of protective security details, protecting a range of clientele, from Corporate CEOs to high-ranking US Government officials. Jason is currently serving as a Designated Defensive Marksman on a protective security detail in Iraq.



Mid Atlantic Region

Tony Siciliano
Senior Instructor

Tony has sixteen years of service as a United States Marine and has deployed to over 26 countries during his career. Initially joining the Marine Corps in 1992, Tony has served as a Marine Embassy Guard in Asia and Africa, a React Team Commander, a Site Security Chief, an Embassy Support Team communicator and an Operations Chief. Additionally, Tony has worked alongside numerous special operations units during his career. Tony has received formal training in all manner of infantry weapons and tactics, military instruction and training management / planning.  Throughout his career, Tony has provided combat arms instruction to numerous U.S. conventional and SOF units, as well as friendly foreign military units in Asia, West Africa, and Europe.

Tony has served as an instructor for: Military Operations in Urban Terrain / Basic Urban Skills Training, Basic Rifle and Pistol Marksmanship, Tactical Rifle/Carbine, Combat Pistol, Convoy Operations, Support and Stability Operations, Patrolling, and Land Navigation / Orienteering.



Carmen Laquatra
Instructor

Carmen has made the study of combat his life’s pursuit. He has studied martial arts for more than 32 years, and is a fourth degree black belt / nationally certified instructor in Tae Kwon Do. Carmen has rankings or certifications in Gung Fu, Instructor of Pressure Point Control Techniques, Defensive Tactics, Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention (SHARP), F.I.G.H.T. Instruction and Spontaneous Knife Defense.  Additionally, Carmen also owns and operates Cleveland Combatives Academy, a Mixed Martial Arts training center.

Carmen comes to LMS Defense having trained some of the best Law Enforcement and Military members in the greater Pennsylvania/Ohio Area in empty-hand fighting and fighting with impact type weapons. In addition to all of his empty-hand combative training, Carmen has trained with some of the most demanding firearms instructors in the industry. Carmen has studied Defensive Pistol, Tactical Pistol, and Tactical Carbine with some of best.



Mid South Region
Bill Toy
Senior Instructor

Bill retired from the United States Army after 20 years of Service where he served in operator and leadership positions with the Infantry, Airborne, and Special Operations units. For the last three years, Bill has served as a Diplomatic Protective Specialist in Iraq. He has served on the protective detail of numerous high-ranking U.S. Dignitaries. Bill has served as a Dedicated Defensive Marksman, Counter Assault Team member, and all positions within a Protective Security Team.

When not deployed to Iraq, Bill serves as an adjunct instructor for the State of Tennessee Police Academy. He teaches Special Weapons and Tactics, Personal Security, and Defensive Tactics. Bill also co-authored the Tennessee P.O.S.T. certified curriculum for Protective Security Details.



Rob Edwards
Instructor

Rob Edwards has been a Law Enforcement professional since 1993. He has countless hours of training in all facets of the job. He has worked in the specialized areas of Narcotics, SWAT and DUI/Traffic Enforcement. He is also an original member of his department's Special Response Team (SRT). In addition to the SRT, Rob is currently a Field Training Officer for his department. He also is a certified as an Emergency Vehicle Operations Instructor, General Police Instructor and Firearms Instructor. Rob has received a master level instructor rating from ALS Technologies for their less lethal product line. Rob has trained with Southnarc, Triple Canopy, Tactical Response and Crossroads Training Academy (Tony Scotti and Associate Instructors).



Pacific Northwest Region

Kevin W.
Senior Instructor

Kevin is a former Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) from the 75th Ranger Regiment. He served as a Machine Gunner, Grenadier, and Fire Team Leader. Kevin's military education includes completion of Ranger School, SERE Level C, SOT, and the Jumpmaster course. Kevin's civilian firearm training includes operator and instructor level courses with 10-8 Consulting, Bennie Cooley (CRTC), the Surefire Institute, Omega Options, Insights Training, and Valhalla Training Center. He is also an NRA certified Range Safety Officer.



Jeremy Miller
Instructor

Jeremy has been a private security professional since 2004, contracting with various companies and entities worldwide. Jeremy currently resides in the dignitary protection industry, where he recently completed a long-term detail with high-ranking members of a foreign government. Prior to entering the personal protection field, Jeremy served in the United States Army stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC. Jeremy is currently serving on a protective security detail in Afghanistan.



Northern California/ Northern Nevada Region

Josh Jackson
Senior Instructor

Josh currently works as a patrol officer and K-9 handler in Northern California. His K-9 partner is a dual-purpose apprehension/ narcotics detection dog. Josh's patrol experience has included high-risk, rural/ mountain and bicycle assignments.  He also has practical experience in helicopter short haul/ S.T.A.B.O. operations and court security. In addition to being a California P.O.S.T. certified firearms instructor, Josh evaluates police cadets during practical examinations at a P.O.S.T. basic police academy. With over a decade of experience in law enforcement, Josh desires to educate and train armed citizens to effectively protect themselves and their families.



San Francisco Bay Region

Ken Hardesty
Senior Instructor

Ken is a former U.S. Marine, and has been an active full-time police officer in large metropolitan California police departments for the last twelve years. Ken's training certifications include firearms, chemical agents, and low-light tactics. He enjoys all aspects of the shooting industry, and coaching novice shooters. Striving to instill the survival mindset, he approaches all training seriously. Attending several courses as a student each year enables him to stay current in the industry.



Todd Nielsen
Instructor

Todd has been a police officer since 1990 with a large metropolitan police department in Northern California. Serving in assignments as a Field Training Officer (FTO), in the Special Operations realm, the Training Unit, and the Range Unit of his department he is experienced in all facets of Law Enforcement.

Todd has trained new officers in the field, planned and executed numerous high risk warrant entries, and has been a team leader most of his career. He has conducted covert, plain clothes, and uniformed Narcotics Enforcement, Bicycle Enforcement, Prostitution Operations, and Dignitary Protection Operations. Todd developed and implemented a Low-Light tactical training program for his department. He has also trained all in-service officers from his department in Active Shooter Tactics, Low Light Tactics, and in Dynamic and Slow Search Tactics. He is a certified Force on force instructor and has served as an adjunct Defensive Tactics instructor.

Todd is a POST certified Firearms instructor and holds several instructor certifications in first aid and CPR. Todd has trained and trained with officers from all over California and the United States. In addition to his professional certifications he also is an avid scuba diver and is a PADI certified Assistant Instructor.



Southern California / Southern Nevada

Mike Perez
Instructor

Mike is a firearms training professional from southern California. Most recently he’s worked full time as an Instructor/Range Master in multiple weapon systems for a major firearms training firm in southern Nevada. He is experienced training civilians as well as military and law enforcement personnel. Mike also serves as a guest instructor for two major metropolitan law enforcement agencies in the Los Angeles area. Mike currently resides in Las Vegas where he works in corporate security.



Ernie Beckwith
Instructor

Ernie is a manager, rangemaster, and instructor for an indoor shooting facility in Nevada. He is a Nevada P.O.S.T. certified three-gun law enforcement instructor, NRA certified instructor, and NRA range safety officer. Ernie also acts as a firearms instructor for a Nevada law enforcement agency and has served as an adjunct instructor for the United States Department of Energy. Ernie has also worked for several years as a performance/competition driving instructor. He has coached and taught privately in the fields of motorsports, firearms, and rock and ice climbing. He has also worked as an outdoor guide for an adventure outfitter based in Moab, Utah. Always a student, Ernie has attended training from facilities such as Blackwater Training Center, Valhalla Training Center, Larry Vickers/Vickers Tactical as well as several performance driving schools.



Southwest Region

Yancey Harrington
Senior Instructor

Yancey Harrington is a former U.S. Army paratrooper who served with the 82nd Airborne Division. While in the 82nd Airborne Yancey attended M60 Machinegun Leaders Course, Anti-Armor Leaders Course, Jungle Operations Training (Panama) and deployed to Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury in October 1983. He has earned parachute wings and diplomas from Canada, Israel, South Africa, Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. After leaving active duty in 1985, Yancey served in the US Army reserves with 8th Battalion, 40th Armor as a Fire Support Section Sergeant. In 1993, Yancey graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Russian and Soviet Studies. Currently, Yancey is self-employed with his own consulting business. Yancey enjoys training and has trained at: Gunsite Training Center, Blackwater Training Center, Rifles Only, McMillan Sniper School as well as with Jeff Gonzales, Max Joseph, Allan Brosnan, SouthNarc, Paul Howe, and Pat Rogers. Yancey has also trained with and currently assists David Scott Donelan with tracking classes at the Tactical Tracking Operations School for law enforcement and the military.



Western Canada

Jason D.
Senior Instructor

Jason is a Canadian Police Officer located Southern British Columbia. Assigned to patrol, Jason also works as an agency Firearms Instructor and Armorer. He has eight years of law enforcement experience that includes service with Canadian Customs at Land Border and Marine Operations. Prior to entering Law Enforcement, Jason worked in the aviation industry both in management and operationally as Commercial Helicopter Pilot supporting forestry, mining and exploration all over North America. Jason has two years of army service as a trained infantryman with the Canadian Army Reserve. Aside from numerous police and law enforcement training courses, Jason has taken operator and some instructor level courses with Colt Canada, Glock, Insights Training, Tactical Response, Trojan Securities, Canadian Tactical and Operational Medical Solutions and LMS Defense.