Brett Harnish - Founder

Brett was born and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a business degree in Economics. After college, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served as an Infantryman and Infantry Squad Leader in 3rd Battalion 3rd Marine Regiment. He received a commission as an Artillery Officer and served in 3rd Battalion 10th Marines and 3rd Battalion 8th Marines Battalion Landing Team as part of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit Special Operations Capable that participated in the initial Peace Enforcement Operations in Kosovo.

Brett served six years of active duty service and two years of active reserve service. During his service, he earned the additional military occupational specialty of 8531 Range Coach (Marksmanship Instructor) and completed the SLAM (Skills for Leaders in Advanced Marksmanship) Course.

After the Marine Corps, Brett served for six years as a United States Border Patrol Agent assigned to the El Centro Sector, Calexico Station. He worked patrol, all-terrain vehicle unit and mountain bikes. Brett graduated the Border Patrol’s Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Firearms Instructor Training Program (FITP) and was subsequently assigned to Sector Training for over 18 months as a full-time firearms instructor.

Brett worked for seven years as a Police Officer for the Town of Herndon, Virginia. He worked patrol, mountain bike patrol and training assignments and administrative assignments. He was a certified Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services general instructor and firearms instructor. He conducted firearms and tactical training for the Department for over three years. He was a factory certified armorer on issued pistols, rifles, submachine guns, and shotguns.

For the last six years, Brett has conducted professional quality open enrollment defensive firearms courses in pistol and carbine and shotgun platforms. He has authored lesson plans and participated in business development activities.

Brett has over twenty years’ work experience as an armed professional and over twelve years’ work experience as a certified firearms instructor. Brett has been interested in guns since he was young and first went to the range with his Grandfather. It sparked in him a life-long interest. He is still a serious student who is enthusiastic about learning and sharing effective techniques with other serious students in the pursuit of excellence.

Firearms Instructor Certifications:

NRA certified Pistol and Rifle Instructor, NRA Law Enforcement Handgun and Shotgun, Patrol Rifle and Tactical Shooting Instructor, IALEFI Master Instructor, Range Master Handgun Instructor, and CSAT Tactical Pistol Instructor.

Brett currently works as a full time firearms instructor for a government agency.