Our Mission
Our Mission is to make amazing firearms and other lifesaving training as accessible to as many people as possible.
We train a wide range of people – from those who will never touch a firearm or those who have never touched a firearm before to those who already have military or law enforcement training.
We work hard to provide knowledge and instruction in a safe, judgment-free environment.
In our ever more chaotic world, we strive to train anyone who wants to have defensive skills, whether it is firearms skills or those more suited for non-permissive environments; including people who will never be armed.
Meet the Team

Joel Gaines
Trainer - Co-Founder
Joel is a US Army combat veteran and former member of the Intelligence Community, having worked in Europe, the Middle East, and in Russia for the Army and the US Department of State. He has decades of experience as a practical shooter in Carbine and Pistol disciplines and is an NRA Certified Instructor for Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun. He has completed the USDS Diplomatic Support Courier training, and is an NAEMT Certified TECC Provider.

Michael Gaines
Trainer - Co-Founder
Michael is a competitve shooter, as well as being Army-trained and an NRA Certified Instructor. He is an Eagle Scout, NAEMT Certified TECC Provider and a student of the University of Arizona’s School of Engineering.

George Hupp
Trainer
George has two decades of experience as a criminal investigator, as well as service in the Army and Air Force. George was a city cop, a state park ranger, a Border Patrol agent, and a federal special agent. He is a graduate of the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy, the Border Patrol Academy, multiple Federal Law Enforcement Training Center courses, US Marshall’s Fugitive Investigations training, and the FBI Counterterrorism Investigations and Operations (CTIOPS) course. George is an NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun Instructor.

Pablo Chavez
Trainer
Pablo is a competitive and practical shooter. He has a passion for teaching beginner gun owners and learning new personal defense techniques that he can pass on to others. He has been training in a combination of firearms and other martial arts for nearly a decade. Pablo is an NRA Certified Pistol Trainer and currently pursuing certifications in other disciplines.

Greg Given
Adjunct Trainer/Advisor
Greg served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Combat Engineer before joining the U.S. Border Patrol and was the class high handgun shooter in the academy. He was certified as a firearms instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, NM and later was the Primary Firearms Instructor at the Nogales, AZ and Sonoita, AZ Border Patrol Stations where he was responsible for the firearms training and qualification of 300 to 500 Agents. Greg is also an advisor/mentor to other WLTAC Trainers.

Ken Smith
Adjunct Trainer/Advisor
Ken is a retired law enforcement officer with decades of firearms experience. His assignments were in patrol, traffic, K-9 and SWAT. Prior to his civilian law enforcement career, Ken was in the United States Air Force as a Security Police Response Force Team Leader. He is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor. Ken is also an advisor/mentor to other WLTAC Trainers.

Rhys
Intern
Rhys is a hard-working young man who is learning about being a firearms and lifesaving skills trainer. Unlike many people his age, he spends his weekends unloading range gear, setting up the range and classrooms and handling paperwork for the class.

Emma
Range Safety Officer

Martin
Range Safety Officer

Terence
Range Safety Officer

Annie
Range Safety Officer

Jason
Range Safety Officer