Chris Norville
Chris is a former police officer who spent 24 years with a large police department in Middle Tennessee. During that time, he became a police firearms instructor. He spent years teaching the use of pistol, rifle, and shotgun, as well as the legal use of force. He was also responsible for developing curriculum for an ever-expanding firearms training program.
Chris has always had a passion for shooting but realized years ago that there is a huge difference between a gun owner and a trained, proficient shooter. After becoming an instructor for his department, he realized that the law enforcement training he was given was not sufficient for such a serious topic. Chris began searching for more information and personal knowledge.
Chris soon transformed into a perpetual student. He has trained with some of the best instructors in the industry and continues to seek professional instruction to improve his personal and professional knowledge. He is always striving to not only be a better shooter but also a better instructor. He believes you can never have too much skill or knowledge when it comes to a defending yourself or your loved ones.
Chris has earned Instructor Certificates from:
TN POST, Rangemaster – Master Instructor & Shotgun Instructor, Defense Training International, TN Law Enforcement Trainers Association, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, High Ground Training Group, Simunitions, NRA, and USCCA
Additional training:
Force Science Institute, Frank Proctor, Gabe White, Northern Red, William Aprill, Pat McNamara, Scott Jedlinski, Steve Fisher, Sage Dynamics, Randy Cain, Massad Ayoob, and more.
Chad Hershman
Richard (Chad) Hershman is a U.S. Marine and a career Police Officer. He joined the Marine Corps Reserve at the age of 17 and was assigned to Btry K, 4th Battalion, 14th Marine Regiment in Huntsville Alabama for 13 years where he served as an Artillery Repairman, Basic Artillerymen and Primary Marksmanship Instructor in addition to holding the billets of both Headquarters and Guns Platoon Sergeant and Local Security Chief.
He also began his career in Law Enforcement at the age of 22 in rural Tennessee and currently serves as a Shift Sergeant with a large city Police Department where he has been employed for the past 21 years. During his time at the Police Department he served on the Department’s Special Operations Unit with both the Entry Team and Sniper Team and finished his time with the team as Sniper Team Leader after 11 years. He is a graduate of numerous law enforcement shooting and sniper schools in addition to countless hours of training and deployments with SWAT teams.
He served for years as Patrol Sergeant and a Firearms Instructor, until finally moving into the Rangemaster position over all firearms training for his agency. Chad was instrumental in developing one of the most comprehensive patrol rifle programs in the state and has taught many other firearms instructors across the state of Tennessee.
Chad is a lifelong hunter and shooter and competed in IDPA until attending his first defensive pistol class under Clint Smith of Thunder Ranch renown. It was then that he decided to quit shooting competitively and focus exclusively on the defensive aspect and firearms use.
He has studied under Clint Smith, Louis Awerbuck , Randy Cain and many other professional firearms teachers and has dedicated his efforts to bringing this knowledge and experience to others who are willing to learn. He has a passion for teaching and a unique ability to diagnose shooter problems and provide corrective teaching.
Mike Honaker
Mike is a former police officer. Mike has nearly a decade of Law Enforcement experience with assignments in Patrol, Fugitive Apprehension and Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. He was also part of his Departments Firearms Training Division as a Patrol Carbine Instructor.
Mike continuously seeks out training to build his shooting skills and knowledge as well as instructor development for firearms training. Mike’s primary goal on the range is to ensure ALL students feel comfortable and safe so they can build as much skill and confidence to defend themselves as possible.
Mike is also a lifelong hunter who enjoys trekking into the wildest, roughest, most remote wilderness to be found. Skills built in back country hunting in combination with lessons learned on the streets as a Police Officer have formed his teaching philosophy. Self and situational awareness go hand in hand with shooting skill. A well armed citizen should polish both.
