At Train SMART, we’re proud to announce our first cadre of instructors, who bring decades of experience to our catalog of firearm training courses. Our instructors come from all walks of life and include gun owners, hunters, and military veterans. And they’re here to teach you everything you know to become a safe, responsible gun owner.
Bianka is a gun owner, hunter education instructor, and the national program coordinator for Hunters of Color, where she works to expand access, safety, and belonging in the outdoors for BIPOC. She teaches The SMART Guide to Buying a Gun and The SMART Guide to Owning a Gun.
Craig joined the U.S. Army in 2018 and has trained and been certified on multiple types of firearms. Before joining the military, he worked as a certified pistol instructor and firearm sales consultant. He teaches Train SMART Gun Safety and Marksmanship.
Crystal is a is a certified hunter education instructor and range safety officer. She also served on the board of Hunters of Color and worked for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife from 2015 to 2020. Like Bianka, Crystal teaches The SMART Guide to Buying a Gun and The SMART Guide to Owning a Gun.
Dan is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy who went on to serve for over 35 years in the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy. Today, he is an avid shotgun shooter and instructor who competes in NSCA-registered events, sets local 5-Stand courses, and runs weekly trap fields. He teaches Train SMART Gun Safety and Marksmanship.
Jake is a passionate hunter and outdoor enthusiast who strives to create welcoming spaces where everyone can learn to feel safer and more confident with firearms. With a background in teaching, he is committed to making Train SMART courses engaging and fun, and empowering students to be responsible with firearms in all situations. Jake teaches The SMART Guide to Buying a Gun and The SMART Guide to Owning a Gun.
Nellis was born and raised in Colorado and grew up hunting deer and elk with her father and brothers. Altogether, she has over 30 years of experience handling firearms and is passionate about building safer communities. She teaches The SMART Guide to Buying a Gun and The SMART Guide to Owning a Gun.
Peter is a Marine Corps veteran who served as an infantry rifleman and combat marksmanship coach. He has also consulted for state attorneys general on firearms compliance and reviewed over a thousand handgun models for compliance with safety standards. He holds a J.D. from Saint Louis University and has written on veteran and firearms issues in national publications. Peter teaches Train SMART Gun Safety and Marksmanship.
Stephen served over 17 years on active duty in the U.S. Army as a cavalry and military intelligence officer, including two combat tours to Afghanistan. He is a gun owner who has extensive experience with rifles and pistols, including training others in their use as an Army-certified Observer Coach/Trainer. He was also a decorated marksman with expert rifle and pistol qualifications.
To learn more about our Training Specialists and the courses they offer, click here.