Clint Smith, Thunder Ranch Inc.
Clint Smith, President and Director of Thunder Ranch®, is a Marine Corps veteran of two infantry and Combined Action Platoon tours in Vietnam. His experience includes seven years as a police officer during which he served as head of the Firearms Training Division as well as being a S.W.A.T. member and precision rifleman.
He left law enforcement to serve as Operations Officer for the American Pistol Institute where he was Dean of instruction and was instrumental in range and curriculum development for A.P.I. In 1983, Clint founded International Training Consultants, Inc., an active mobile training program which is nationally recognized for innovative programs in Urban Rifle, Shotgun, Precision Rifle, and various handgun formats.
In 1986, he served as Director of Training for Heckler & Koch, Inc., where he developed and taught progressive courses in fully automatic weapons as well as conventional weapons systems.
In 1993, Thunder Ranch®, Inc. opened to show not only innovative training, but numerous range designs and functions of a type not seen before in one facility. Clint is a contributor to American Handgunner, American Cop, GUNS and SWAT magazines and has published articles in many other national and international publications. In 2004 TR was successfully moved to Oregon.
JEFF COOPERS
John Dean "Jeff" Cooper (May 10, 1920 - September 25, 2006) was recognized as the father of what is commonly known as "the Modern Technique" of handgun shooting, and one of the 20th century's foremost international experts on the use and history of small arms. Cooper's modern technique defines pragmatic use of the pistol for personal protection. The modern technique emphasizes two-handed shooting using the Weaver stance, replacing the once-prevalent one-handed shooting.
JEFF COOPERS was a Marine Lieutenant Colonel who served in both World War II and the Korean War resigning his commission in 1956. He received a bachelor's degree in political science from Stanford University and, in the mid-1960s, a master's degree in history from the University of California, Riverside.
In 1976, Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute or A.P.I in Paulden, Arizona (later the Gunsite Training Center). Cooper also began teaching shotgun and rifle classes to law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians and did on-site training for individuals and groups around the world. He sold the firm in 1992 but continued living on the Paulden ranch. He was known for his advocacy of large caliber handguns, especially the Colt 1911 and the .45 ACP cartridge.
Todd Jarrett
A National and World Practical Shooting Champion, Todd Jarrett has been a dominant force in practical shooting in the United States for the past 25 years. He currently holds 3 World titles, 9 National titles and has won over 50 Area championships and countless other action shooting events.
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced shooter, you will learn something from Todd about; Basic grip, Safe - fast - accurate holster draws, the 4 methods of quick concealed carry draws, Effective stance and movements on the range, Eye dominance and target acquisition, Shooting with Props and The famous “El Prez” drill that combines all of the above.
Massad Ayoob, Lethal Force Institute.
Born July 20, 1948 Massad F. Ayoob is an internationally known firearms and self-defense instructor. He has taught police techniques and civilian self-defense to both law enforcement officers and private citizens in numerous venues since 1974. He was the director of the Lethal Force Institute (LFI) in Concord, New Hampshire from 1981 to 2009, and he now directs the Massad Ayoob Group (MAG). Ayoob has appeared as an expert witness in several trials. He has served as a part-time police officer in New Hampshire since 1972 and holds the rank of Captain in the Grantham, New Hampshire police department.
Ayoob has authored several books and more than 1,000 articles on firearms, combat techniques, self-defense, and legal issues, and has served in an editorial capacity for Guns Magazine, American Handgunner, Gun Week, and Combat Handguns. Since 1995, he has written self, defense and firearms related articles for Backwoods Home Magazine. He also has a featured segment on the television show Personal Defense TV, which airs on the Sportsman Channel in the United States.
Since 1987, he has served as chairman of the Firearms Committee of the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET). He also serves on the Advisory Board of the International Law Enforcement Educators’ and Trainers’ Association, and is an instructor at the National Law Enforcement Training Center
Jerry Miculek
Jerry Miculek is a speed shooter and competition shooting instructor, experienced in nearly every type of firearm made. He is renowned as one of the fastest revolver shooters in the world, emptying a five-shot revolver in 0.57 seconds in a group the size of a playing card. Miculek currently holds five world records in exhibition revolver shooting. In addition, Miculek is an experienced gunsmith who tunes and adjusts his own revolvers for optimum function.
He is endorsed by Smith & Wesson, who created the S&W Model 625JM model in honor of him.
An avid shooter, Jerry holds numerous national and world shooting titles:
Five time USPSA 3-Gun National Championship
Four time 2nd Chance Bowling Pin Champion
1997 American Handgunner World Shoot-Off Champion (The only person ever to win this title with a revolver.)
Fourteen time International Revolver Champion
Member of five time winning pro team at the Sportsmans Team Challenge
Three time Masters International Long Gun Champion
Three time USPSA National Revolver Champion
Two time IPSC World Revolver Champion
Two time IDPA Enhanced Service Revolver Champion
One time Bianchi Cup Metallic Champion
Matt Burkett
Matt Burkett is a Seven Time MGM IronMan Overall Champion, Three Time World Three Gun Champion, Two Time European Three Gun Champion and 2003 National IDPA ESP Champion. He is an internationally recognized world class shooter who can make anybody who carries a gun a better shot. Matt provides training for military, law enforcement and civilians world wide. He has trained over 7,000 people in 19 countries from Asia to Eastern Europe.
Titles and Accomplishments:
Seven Time MGM IronMan Overall Champion
Three Time World Three Gun Champion
Two Time European Three Gun Champion
2003 National IDPA ESP Champion
Pan-American IPSC Champion
North American Stock Gun Champion
Two time World Stock Gun Champion
Over 150 other championship wins
