Tom Givens

Before coming to Rangemaster full-time in 1996, Tom completed a 25-year career in law enforcement and specialized security work.

For over thirty-five years Tom's duties have included firearms instruction. He has trained security officers; law enforcement officers at the local, state, and federal level; and foreign government agents.

Tom's education, training, and experience in this field include:

• Graduate, NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development School, and Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor School, attended multiple times
• Graduate, FBI Police Firearms Instructor School, FBI Certified Firearms Instructor
• Graduate, (Expert Certificate) Gunsite Training Center API 499, Jeff Cooper
• Graduate, U.S. Army Instructor School
• Graduate, Advanced Tactical Pistol, Tactical Explosives Entry School (TEES)
• Graduate, Ken Hackathorn Advanced Handgun Course
• Graduate, Chuck Taylor Advanced Handgun Course
• Graduate, John Farnam DTI Advanced Handgun Course (Instructor Certified)
• Graduate, CQB and Low Light Courses, Andy Stanford, OPS and Surefire Academy
• Certified Handgun Instructor, Tennessee, Department of Safety and Department of Commerce
• MS State Certified Instructor
• Adjunct Firearms Instructor, Memphis Police Academy
• Attended several Calibre Press Street Survival Seminars
• Author of five published textbooks, including Fighting Smarter
• Author of over 100 magazine articles in S.W.A.T. Magazine, Combat Handguns Magazine, Concealed Carry Magazine, Soldier of Fortune, Peterson Handguns Magazine, and others
• Former Class A I.P.S.C. Competitor
• I.P.S.C. Tennessee/Mississippi Section Champion, 1977, 1978 – Class A rating (highest rating available at the time)
• I.D.P.A. Master rating in CDP, ESP, and SSP divisions
• 1998 Tennessee IDPA State Champion
• 1999 Mississippi IDPA State Champion
• Former Member IDPA Board of Directors
• Certified Expert Witness on Firearms and Police Firearms Training (state and federal court)

Professional memberships:

• National Rifle Association,( Life Member)
• Police Marksman Association (Life Member)
• American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
• National Law Enforcement Trainers Association
• International Wound Ballistics Association
• International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.

Tom has made hundreds of arrests, including numerous armed felons, and he has successfully used a handgun to defend himself and others against armed criminals. Tom designs and oversees all training courses at Rangemaster, and is the primary instructor for Level 3-5 Handgun and specialized courses. In addition to our Memphis classes, Tom teaches off-site courses all over the United States each year.