Instructor Bios

He served as a Special Agent of the FBI for over 28 years. Don also served as a Firearms & Tactical Instructor to federal, state & local law enforcement agencies, traveling nationwide & internationally. The bulk of his experience was primarily investigations of Violent Crimes/Gangs & Terrorism & led a FBI Task Force focused on Violent Crime & Fugitives in the KC metro area. With 25 years tactical experience as an FBI SWAT Team Member, Squad Leader, Assistant Team Leader and Senior Team Leader, he was responsible for the training and leadership of the KC Office of the FBI’s SWAT Team. Don is a 2 time recipient of the FBI Shield of Bravery & recipient of the KS Peace Officers Association Gold Award for Bravery, along with numerous awards and commendations for exemplary conduct of investigations & training. Don does independent contracting as a private investigator, security consultant and provides executive protection services.

He is a manager at Centerfire, having been with the company since moving from Massachusetts to Kansas in 2014. He previously served as a Marine Corps Infantryman from 2005-2009, and deployed to the Mediterranean/Persian Gulf region, as well as Ramadi, Iraq. His roles included Automatic Rifleman, Fire Team Leader, and Combat Marksmanship Coach. After being honorably discharged he attended college and began working in the firearms industry. He received his instructor training from the NRA in both Basic Pistol & Home Firearms Safety disciplines, in addition to armorer certifications from GLOCK, Sig Sauer on the AR-15, and Smith & Wesson for the M&P pistol line.

He served as a Certified Motorcycle Training Officer with the California Highway Patrol in Los Angeles for 25 year. He was part of the Dignitary Protection Unit and was the Governor’s security detail along with providing security for visiting US dignitaries. He was part of the Protective Services Detail that provided security detail for high profile US officials and other officials from other countries. He was also the Field Training Officer, Firearms and Tactical Instructor and part of the Special Response Team. John also served 7 years in the Gulfport MS Police Department as a Motor Officer and SWAT.

He formally began his shooting career after trying out and being selected for the US Army Marksmanship Unit Service Rifle Team. He earned both the President’s Hundred tab and Distinguished Rifleman Badge. After the military, Sean was a Special Agent with the FBI for over 21 years being certified in Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and Surveillance. Sean served on SWAT teams in San Francisco and Albuquerque. He completed the FBI Sniper and Advanced Sniper Schools, was a Sniper Team Leader, served as an FBI Firearms Instructor for 21 years and a Tactical Instructor for 17 years. He also shoots NRA PPC. Sean genuinely enjoys helping both new and advanced shooters reach their full potential.

Robert spent 4 years in the United Stated Marine Corps as a T.O.W Missile Operator. He was deployed to Joint Task Force Six to work with the United States Border Patrol with Counter Narcotics and Human Trafficking. He served 24 years with the Leawood Police Department as a Firearms Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor, “Less Lethal” Instructor, Motor Officer, and Patrol Supervisor. Robert attended both FBI and Missouri Tactical Officers Sniper Schools. He is a FBI Certified Rangemaster, Strategos International Tactical Rifle Instructor, Kansas Law Enforcment Center Firearms Instructor and has his HK Tac Team 1 certificate, as well as Remington and Glock Armorers certificates.

Jess has been with Centerfire since 2020. She has been involved in shooting sports since she was 7 years old with her grandfather who was a National Champion trap & sheet shooter. She began competing in 2018 with USPSA and 3-gun, even competing in The Tactical Games a few times. She is passionate about training newer shooters for any situation, with her specialty being instructing our ladies classes. Jess is also an EMT with Johnson County Med-Act and likes to put her training to use in both of her job roles. In her spare time, Jess loves taking her daughters to the range along with her husband and teaching them the importance of firearms, as well as competing in local matches.

He has been with Centerfire Shooting Sports since 2017. He is a 24 year veteran Firefighter and Emergency Medical Technician for Johnson County and has been a Fire Service Instructor for several years. Bernie has been an avid hunters since he was young and has always focused on firearm safety for himself and others. He is a Certified NRA Instructor and has many years of martial arts training and teaching. Bernie is happily married with two children and enjoys wood working in his spare time.

He is the Operations Manager of Centerfire Shooting Sports. Adam is also a nationally certified Emergency Medical Technician, Stop The Bleed Instructor, and nationally certified Firefighter. Adam grew up shooting pistols with his Dad, who was a Firefighter, and an Arson Investigator, and has been in love with shooting ever since. With extensive time on the range under the guidance of former Special Forces, and FBI SWAT instructors, Adam has developed and fine-tuned tactics and marksmanship with pistol, rifle, and shotgun. Adam is the instructor for Centerfire’s Competition Pistol League, and also enjoys taking part in shooting competitions and has placed among top competitors at multiple matches.

He served four years in the United State Marine Corps, before graduating with honors from the University of Maryland. Subsequently, he had a 25 year career in the FBI with assignments in Louisville, Los Angeles, Washington D.C. and Kansas City. Throughout his FBI career he primarily worked Violent Crimes, Gangs/Drugs, and Terrorism. He served as an Agent, Supervisor, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, (Acting) Special Agent in Charge and Chief of the Violent Crimes/Major Offenders Section at FBIHQ. He served on the FBI’s Inspection Staff, and was a standing member of the FBI’s Shooting Review Board. In 2005 he served a tour as the On Scene Commander for all FBI resources in Afghanistan. He was a member and/or team leader on both the FBI’s Louisville and Los Angeles SWAT Teams, and Supervisor of the FBI’s Kansas City SWAT Team. He is an FBI certified instructor in Firearms, Defensive Tactics and Police Training, as well as a certified NRA Pistol Instructor, and certified by the KS Attorney General to teach the KS Concealed Carry Handgun Course.

He is a Firearms Instructor and Social Media Consultant for Centerfire Shooting Sports. He’s been on staff with Centerfire since 2019, and a Top Shot member since 2013. He was a competitive sporting clay and trap shooter and was a founding member of the Cystic Fibrosis Shoot For the Cure Foundation, a long standing Kansas City CF fundraiser. He was taught to shoot at the age of 8 and has been collecting and shooting ever since. He enjoys helping new shooters learn and master the basics, while also helping more experienced shooters refine their skills.