The Instructors of TRFTA

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Owner and Senior Instructor of TRFTA, Mark wanted to create a training organization that focused more on "Student Centered Learning" concepts / principals and not just teaching the "basics" from a book.  Recognizing the many different individual learning styles, Mark has developed training courses that offers lecture based learning, scenario based as well hands-on learning for those who learn by doing. 

Mark has obtained a number of instructor level credentials both locally (state), nationally, and at the federal level, which combined with current and up-to-date industry practices, makes Mark and in-turn TRFTA one of the industry's leading, up and coming instructors and training facilities.  

Mark currently serves as a Security Contractor with the Department of Homeland Security / Federal Protective Service.

As TRFTA continues to grow, approaching a DECADE of service in January 2023, and the increasing need for more highly training individuals to protect a variety of locations and businesses, TRFTA is creating new courses in a multitude of areas and topics.  We feel the future is VERY bright for TRFTA!

John serves as one of TRFTA's Associate Instructors for our training courses.  He currently serves as a lieutenant for the Galion Police Department in Galion, Ohio.  Wearing many hats at his agency, John also assists training topics at the LEO level and brings a wealth of knowledge to the private security courses we provide.

John has a very determined focus on providing the most current and up-to-date training practices as he continues to attend instructor level courses, obtaining advanced knowledge and skills that can be deployed in the use of force scenarios while on the job.

In June 2022, John continued in his desire to provide training by attending the OPOTA Instructor Development Certification course held at the Medina County Sheriff's Office.  John has begun instructing the OPOTA Private Security Firearms courses and has a career advancement goal to instruct at the basic law enforcement academy level to help mold and shape the next generation of LEOs in 2023.  

John is also an accomplish amateur professional angler/fisherman.

David has accepted to becoming one of TRFTA's OPOTA School Commanders.  We are very proud of David's willingness to continue to serve the students of TRFTA!

David has shown his commitment to training by participating in a variety of instructor development courses, able to train all TRFTA training courses currently being offered.  In October 2023, David will be attending OPOTA to receive the second part of becoming an OPOTA Instructor, pistol discipline. 

David is a former police officer and currently serves a national armored truck organization as one of their "in-house" trainers.  In this role, he is tasked with preparing new individuals coming on with the essential knowledge and training to work with and in such high valued product(s) environment, which is heavily targeted by ill-willed individuals.  David helps prepare individuals to survive events that during some of these event are only see in the movies.

Among the many other accomplishments under his belt, David is an accomplish German "long-swordsman" and has participated in events outside the United States.

Ted Thompson was added to TRFTA's list of instructors in January 2022.  Ted has begun to play an integral role in the continued ability for TRFTA to present our many different training courses, sometimes being asked to step-in at the 11th-hour. 

Continuing in his original role with TRFTA as one of our private security firearms instructors, Ted continues to have the heart of a servant to providing the very best he can muster to present to our students.  Ted's dedication to training continues not only for TRFTA students, but for him as well.  Ted recently attended, with another TRFTA Instructor, the NRA Basic Pistol Instructor development course and will now be able to be affiliated with TRFTA Concealed Handgun Training courses.

In July 2022, Ted retired after 25 years of active law enforcement, achieving the rank of Sergeant with his agency.  Ted also serves as an in-house trainer for a regional hospital organization.  TRFTA is extremely proud of this accomplishment and specifically honor his service to his community for such a length of time.

Ted brings a level of knowledge and training that both incorporates the law enforcement arena just as much as the private security industry.  TRFTA is proud to count him amongst our instructor core.