John Benner
President and chief instructor of Tactical Defense Institute, John Benner is a 37-year veteran police Lieutenant and Vietnam Veteran. John recently retired as Coordinator of the Drug Abuse Reduction Task Force. John spent 25 years with the Hamilton County Police Association Regional SWAT Team. During 20 years as Commander, John received several prestigious awards including Contribution to Law Enforcement, Police Leadership and Officer of the Year. John is certified to instruct and a guest instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer’s Training Council (OPOTA). John is a member of and presenter for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). John is the co-author of the nationally used CQPC Program.
John Motil
John J. Motil retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2003. He achieved the rank of Senior Master Sergeant after serving 21 years. He has worked in various F-16 aircraft maintenance positions in 9 duty locations, in both the U.S. and overseas. He is a Benefactor Member of the NRA and received his NRA Basic Rifle and Pistol Instructor Certification in 1988. He has run numerous ranges on military installations for base Rod and Gun clubs. He has actively participated in USPSA, NRA Action Pistol, and IDPA. He is also a certified IDPA Safety Officer and holds a Expert rating in CDP. He is a certified Glock and Smith and Wesson M&P Armorer. He has built both 1911 and AR rifles, and is familiar with most modern firearms when it comes to troubleshooting and repairs. He has been involved with shooting and hunting in some form his whole life. He holds a B.S. degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
David Bowie
David Bowie has been teaching at TDI since 1993, He is the Owner/Operator of Bowie Tactical Concepts. He has been a NRA certified Pistol and Rifle instructor since 1992. Until TDI took over his free time he was a competitive shooter who attained a master class USPSA rating in what is now production class. He has been a guest instructor at the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy, as well as mutiple times for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors at regional and National Conferences. David has worked as a Prosecutors Office Investigator, Road Deputy for a Southern Ohio Sheriff’s Office and has been a Member of the S.R.T. (tactical Team) since 2002 where he has worked his way through the ranks from team member to Team leader and is now currently Commander and also maintains a designated marksman qualification. David is also a member of the Ohio Tactical Officers Association and the National Tactical Officers Association.
Greg Ellifritz
Greg Ellifritzis a 16-year veteran police officer, spending the last 11 years as the fulltime tactical training officer for his centralOhioagency. In that position, he is responsible for developing and instructing all of the in-service training for a 57-officer police department. Prior to his training position, he served as patrol officer, bike patrol officer, precision marksman, and field training officer for his agency.
He has been an active instructor for the Tactical Defense Institute since 2001 and a lead instructor for TDI’s ground fighting, knife fighting, impact weapons, and extreme close quarters shooting classes.
Greg holds instructor, master instructor, or armorer certifications in more than 75 different weapons systems, defensive tactics programs, and law enforcement specialty areas. In addition to these instructor certifications, Greg has trained with most of the leading firearms and edged weapons instructors in the country.
Greg has been an adjunct instructor for the Ohio Peace Officer’sTrainingAcademy, teaching firearms, defensive tactics, bike patrol, knife defense and physical fitness topics. He has taught firearms and self defense classes at the national and international level through the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors, The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers and Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police. He has a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Management and has written for several publications including: ‘The Firearms Instructor”, “Ohio Police Chief”, “Combat Handguns” and “The Journal of the American Women’s Self Defense Association”.
Forrest Sonewald
B.A. Criminal Justice from Kent State University
Twenty Three year Law Enforcement Veteran
Department Armorer for Glock, Sig, Mossberg, and HK weapon systems
OPOTA certified instructor for Pistol, Shotgun, Sub-Machine gun, Semi-Auto Patrol Rifle, and Full Auto Assault Rifle
Department instructor for Impact tools (ASP), Less Lethal Munitions, Defensive Tactics, and O.C. Spray
Swat Team member 1994 to 2011
Martial Artist with background in Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Krav Maga, Kali, and Eskrima.
TDI Adjunct Instructor Since 2003
Gary Hoff
Gary Hoff is a metallurgist retired from the steel industry after 41 years of service. He began taking professional handgun, shotgun, knife and open hands self defense courses at Tactical Defense Institute in 1998. While most of the classes he has taken have been at TDI, he has also completed training in Level 3 Handgun atStormMountainTrainingCenterand an IDPA Competitive Techniques Class taught by IDPA National Champion Scott Warren. He has currently accumulated over 400 handgun training hours. He is currently an NRA certified pistol instructor and an IDPA safety officer. He regularly participates in IDPA matches when not teaching at TDI.
Lynn Freshly
Lynn Freshly retired as a lieutenant with a small city inNE Ohio. He has over 27 years of law enforcement experience and has been a firearms instructor since 1987.Lynnis certified to teach semi auto pistol, revolver, shotgun, semi auto carbine, sub-machine gun and scope sighted rifle by the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy. He has attended most major shooting schools in the US and has over 800 hours of training in firearms and tactics. Lynn has been an instructor with TDI since 1998. When Lynn is not training at our facility, he works as a trainer for Glock Firearms.
Clay Smith
“Helpless Civilian” by trade (my day job is cubicle-type office work for a company in the 401k business). My shooting background starts with my dad. He was a competitive trapshooter for most of his life, so he got me into shooting long guns when I was about 10. I picked up an interest in handguns, and other firearms of a “defensive” nature around 18. That eventually led me into pistol competition sports (IDPA and USPSA), and led me to seek out professional training. The majority of my professional training has come from TDI (starting taking classes back in 1997, and started working there as a part time instructor around 2003). I also try to get out to other training opportunities as time/money permits. Those include NRA Instructor Certification, Glock Armorer’s Certification, Training from Tactical Response in Tennessee, and Bob Vogel (Professional USPSA Shooter), Roger’s Shooting School in Georgia. I still shoot IDPA and USPSA matches when my schedule allows (generally just local matches). No military or law enforcement background (just lots of friends who are cops and soldiers).
Dave Battin
Dave Battin began as a student at TDI in 1999 and continued his skills throughout the years until he became efficient enough to become an instructor in 2003. He attended the Ohio Peace Officer Academy in 2006. Dave is currently employed as a full time police officer with the City of Deer Park Police Department where he is one of the firearm instructors on the department. He has OPOTA certification in semi-automatic pistol, shotgun, revolver, and tactical rifle instruction. Dave is also a member of the HCPA SWAT Team.
Cyrus Baker
Cyrus Baker has been an instructor at TDI since 1987. Cyrus is a sergeant in the Georgetown Police Department, where he has worked since 1989. He became an OPOTA firearms instructor in 1992, and a Unit Instructor in 1994. After many years of training and experience, Cyrus has OPOTA instructor ratings in: Revolver, pistol, shotgun, tactical rifle, submachine gun, scoped rifle, defensive tactics and subject control, taser.
Webmaster adds: Cyrus is an avid motorcycle rider. You can see him with his bike in all kinds of weather. Even at TDI. And for our younger students in the event they are confused, “Instructor: Revolver” is a firearm that gained great popularity in the 19th century. Is easily identified by the center-part that rotates. And was probably used by your dad and other men of great accomplishment and skill. 
–TDI Webmaster
Tim Chin
As a Law Enforcement Officer, I have served with a SW Ohio Police Department since 1989. I was promoted to Lieutenant in 2008. Selected as a member of the Hamilton County Police Association SWAT Team in 1993, my responsibilities include training. My certifications as an instructor, through the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy and Taser International, include the Semi-Auto Handgun, Tactical Rifle, Chemical Munitions, Less Lethal Munitions, Straight Baton, Use of Force and the Taser X26. In addition, I am a certified armorer for Glock handguns and the AR-15 rifles. At the Great Oaks Police Academy, I instruct police recruits, and have served the Tactical Defense Institute since 1993.
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Jeremy Decker
Jeremy Decker began instructing for Tactical Defense Institute in 2000. He has worked part time in Law Enforcement since graduating from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy in 2003. Jeremy has worked in various positions including Patrol, Plain Clothes and served as his Departments Armorer. His training background includes classes from T.D.I., Pat Rogers, Ken Hackathorn, Bill Jeans, Southnarc, Michael Janich and many others as well as graduating from several armorer schools. Jeremy also serves as a shoot director for his local club and shoots competitively as time allows.
Outside of these duties Jeremy works for a privately owned company where his responsibilities include transportation safety and compliance, accident investigation and corporate level training.
Bill Posey
Bill Posey is a practicing trial attorney with the firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp, PLL since 1979. Bill’s law practice involves all aspects of litigation with particular emphasis in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death
litigation: insurance coverage: complex and multi-district litigation, and aviation. He has served as lead trial counsel on behalf of clients in more than thirty-five jurisdictions. He lectures on topics relating to accident reconstruction, use of experts, trial skills and strategies, damages, insurance coverage and bad faith issues. Bill has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers, as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio, as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Cincinnati, and by The Best Lawyers in America.
Bill began his shooting education with his first class at TDI in Nov. 2007 and began teaching in Spring, 2009. He is an NRA certified instructor in Pistol, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection in the Home. He has further taken instruction with Ken Hackathorn and Bill Rogers in tactical and speed shooting.
Dick Wheeler
Dick Wheeler started instructing at TDI in 2004. Dick is a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer, and is also certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission as a Unit Firearms Instructor (revolver, semi-auto pistol & shotgun) and Range Safety Officer. Dick is a member of The International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and a member of The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Dick was a law enforcement officer for 10-years, many years ago, for the Cities of Westerville andPataskala,Ohio. Dick currently is the President of an Engineering Consulting company inColumbus,Ohio.
Joe Culek
Competitive shooter since age 12 starting with BB guns and position shooting
Shot trap and skeet early 20’s then DCM high power rifle shooting with M1 andM1A and benchrest shooting Sporter class
Started IPSC in 1988 finished top 50 1990-92 1993 tri state champ (ohio-penn-w.virginia) have taken shooting courses from Jerry Barnhart and Rob Leatham
Family started late 1993 started to become interested in self protection and protecting my family went to Massad Ayoob’s Lethal Force Institute taking LFI-1 2000,LFI-2 2001 then to Tactical Defense Institute where I have taken Level 1 to 6 handgun, Fist, Partner Tactics, Advanced Concealed Carry, Precision Rifle, Tactical Shotgun, Defensive Knife, Integrated Impact Weapon, Close Quarters Personal Control have worked as Insructor since fall of 2001 instructing Level 1 to 6 handgun, Fist, Partner Tactics, Advanced Concealed Carry, Tactical shotgun.
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor NRA#3666409 Teach Ohio concealed carry
Other interests-hunting big and small game, fishing, boating and other related water sports, muscle cars, world war 2 aircraft, still play and coach soccer, martial art Jeet Kune Do/Professional Fighting Systems as developed by Paul Vunak Instructor under Full Instructor Mike Hasychak
Warren Bistline
Warren’s background is in the property and casualty insurance industry. He began his career in insurance claims 1975, and over the years he has handled all types of claims, from simple to complex, including fatalities, arson fires and accidental shootings. For 22 years he operated his own business as an independent adjuster. He frequently found himself going to areas where nobody else wanted to go, which spurred his desire to obtain some real-world training. He learned of this training facility from John Benner, and he took his first class in 1992. He attended many classes and was given the opportunity to become a part-time instructor in 2002. He assists primarily with the handgun classes, although the Tac Shotgun class is one of his personal favorites. Warren considers it an honor to work with our students, and he is grateful for the opportunity to instruct others in the the skills and tactics taught at TDI..
Warren currently works for an insurance company, supervising residential and commercial property claims in OH, KY and IN. Outside of work and TDI, Warren can be found involved in family activities with his wife (since 1973) Mary, his 2 married daughters and 3 grandchildren, or with activities at his church, including many years of teaming with Mary as marriage mentors (no live ammo at mentoring sessions!!).
Dave Stallard
Firearms:
-Veteran TDI Student and Instructor
-Class I Special Deputy Kenton County Sheriff Office 1998-date
Firearms Instructor–Sig Sauer, Glock and Armalite Certified Armorer—
Executive Protection Team with service on Presidential Detail,
Speaker of House Details, Kentucky Governor Detail, Other
Political and celebrity Details—Advance Site, Route & Security Planning–
Won Kentucky DOJ Statewide Law Enforcement Combat Match ~ 2000
-Cincinnati Revolver Club 1970s-1980s, Won City Championship Expert Class
-Reloading pistol, rifle, shotgun-progressive & single stage
OTHER:
-Commercial Pilot-Instrument & Multi-Engine ratings
-SCUBA- SSI Certified Open Water Instructor
-Deer & Bear Hunting
-Patent Examiner US Patent & Trademark Office
-Attorney
-Patent & Trademark Counsel
-Wood, Herron & Evans
Cincinnati, Ohio
Ed Lovette
Mr. Lovette is a retired CIA paramilitary operations officer. He is a former Captain in the U.S. Army’s Special Forces and is also a 10 year law enforcement veteran in which capacity he served as a patrol officer, sheriff’s deputy and as the senior firearms and tactics instructor for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.
Since retiring Mr. Lovette has taught kidnap avoidance techniques and evasive driving to business executives living and working inLatin America. He has developed a terrorist surveillance detection program for a Federal security agency with a significant terrorist threat. He has been involved with a variety of programs designed to enhance the security of our U.S. Embassies overseas. Most recently he has been involved with antiterrorism training programs for police officers.
In addition to co-authoring Defensive Living with Dave Spaulding he is the author of The Snubby Revolver: The ECQ, Backup and Concealed Carry Standard.
He is a guest instructor at TDI for the Active Shooter for the Armed Citizen and the Snubby Revolver classes.
Nancy Strope
In 1996 I was contemplating becoming a police officer. I was 34 years old and knew if I didn’t do something now, I would be too old to get into the field. A friend who was in a reserves program began working with me, and taught me some basic firearms safety. I had never picked up a gun before then, but I was hooked! I wanted to be more than proficiant. I wanted to be able to protect myself. I saw the adds for TDI at a gun show and decided to check them out. The first year I took level one through four handgun classes. After taking level four, John Benner asked if I would be interested helping out with some of the classes. That was in 1997 and I’ve been coming to TDI ever since. I did get that law enforcement career and am currently working as a road officer and evidence technician for a southwestern Ohio police department. I don’t have as much time as I used to to get down to TDI, but the guys always make me feel welcome when I do.
Duston Saunders
Duston Saunders graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1972 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry. Following Airborne School, Ranger School, and the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Ft. Benning, GA, Duston served four years with the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell, KY as a platoon leader, company executive officer, battalion staff officer, and company commander. Duston returned to Ft. Benning for the Infantry Officer Advanced Course and Jumpmaster Course and then was assigned to the 509th Airborne Battalion Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy where he was a staff officer and company commander. Following an assignment as an advisor to the New York National Guard, Duston left active duty in 1984 but continued to serve in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2000. Duston was the Chief Financial Officer for Arbitration Forums Inc. In Tarrytown, NY for nine years before serving 18 years as an executive with the West Point Association of Graduates. In addition to his duties at the Association of Graduates, Duston has been the Officer-in-Charge & Head Coach of the cadet pistol team at West Point since 1993. Under his leadership the Pistol Team has won 8 National Intercollegiate Pistol Championships and over 60 cadets have earned All-American honors. Duston is certified by the NRA as a Basic Firearms, Personal Protection, and Home Defense instructor. He is also certified by USA Shooting as a Level III International Pistol Coach and is an active competitor in Conventional and International Pistol competition. Duston took Handgun I-II-III at Tactical Defense Institute in 2004 and he attended Front Sight for their basic handgun course in 2005. Since 2005, Duston has been bringing the West Point Pistol Team to TDI each April to take an intensive 3 day – 2 night course of tactical live- fire training to better prepare the cadets for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan following their graduation from West Point. Duston became a TDI instructor in 2011.
Sam Santa Rita
Sam Santa-Rita was first introduced to TDI in 2005 as a student. Sam and his wife Julie have taken numerous classes at TDI and encourage their five children to participate as well. Sam is a Certified Prosthetist and is the founder and owner of SRT Prosthetics and Orthotics,LTD with offices in Ohio and Indiana. He is also a part-time police officer serving his local community as a patrol officer and founding member of the tactical team. Sam is enthused to have partnered with TDI in developing Handgun I,II,III curriculum for amputees.
Jeff Lehman
Jeff is the chief of a northwest Ohio police department where he has served for the past 25 years. He’s been working with TDI since 2006. He has prior service as a volunteer firefighter and private security officer. Jeff is an OPOTA certified basic police academy and in-service instructor in many topics to include firearms (revolvers, semi-automatic pistols, pump-action shotguns, tactical/patrol rifles) defensive tactics and HazMat/WMD. He maintains a private security instructor’s certificate.
Chris Wallace
Career Law Enforcement Officer with 8+ years undercover with an urban drug task force. Current Police Chief for city in South West Ohio. Currently serving on two SW Ohio SWAT teams. One team as a sniper and the other team as a tactical member. Graduate of FBI National Academy. TDI Precision Rifle Lead Instructor since 1995.
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Jerry Cashman
Jerry is a retired Principal Engineer from General Electric Aviation and is currently employed by General Electric as a rehired retiree. He also is a consulting engineer to industry, is writing an engineering standard for the International Standards Organization (ISO) and is an adjunct professor of metallurgical engineering at the University of Utah. Jerry is a life member of both the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club. He also is a member of the Ohio Rifle and Pistol Association (ORPA). Jerry has been an instructor at TDI since 1988. He was also invited to support the training efforts for the Hamilton County (HCPA) SWAT Team and has served in this capacity for a number of years. He is a 25 year member of the Miami Rifle and Pistol Club In Cincinnati and has served on its Board of Directors. At TDI he instructed in the handgun and rifle schools for many years, but recently has focused on supporting the rifle efforts. Jerry’s principal shooting interest pertains to rifles. He is admittedly a geek, very interested in the technical details of shooting and firearms. Jerry holds a bachelors and masters degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Arizona and a PhD in materials engineering from the University of Dayton. He is also registered professional engineer.
Mike Klein
Instructor at TDI since 1996.
Total of 38 years of law enforcement experience.
Former United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Retired from the Kentucky State Police having served in the following capacities:
1. Uniformed trooper
2. Narcotics detective
3. Academy instructor
4. Regional Special Response Team member
5. Firearms instructor
6. Pistol Team
7. ASP and PR-24 instructor
Retired from the Kenton County Sheriff’s Office having served in the following capacities:
1. Captain and Division Commander of the Operations and Court Services Divisions
2. Commander of the Special Response Team
3. Firearms Instructor
Currently a Reserve Officer for the Alexandria Police Department serving as a member of a multi-jurisdictional SWAT Team.
Certified in Kentucky as a Law Enforcement Manager and Firearms Instructor.
Certified Federal Firearms Instructor.
NRA certified Basic Pistol Instructor.
Kentucky Concealed Carry Instructor.
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Jack The Range Dog
Jack the Range Dog (aka Jack Posey) is the TDI mascot found at many of the handgun training classes. Jack is a rescue Jack Russell Terrier who lives to have a tennis ball thrown for him. After being exhausted by playing ball he can be found sleeping on an instructor’s lap during classroom session and in the barn, oblivious to the noise, when we are on the range. Although he knows he owns Bill Posey, he thinks all the TDI instructors are his aunts and uncles and that the students are his new friends who come to TDI just to see him.