Tom Givens,
Chief Instructor
Chief Instructor
- Graduate, FBI Police Firearms Instructor School, FBI certified Firearms Instructor
- Graduate, NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development School
- Graduate, NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor School
- Certified Handgun Instructor, Tennessee
- Graduate, U.S. Army Instructor School
- Graduate, (Expert Certificate) Gunsite Training Center API 499
- Graduate, Advanced Tactical Pistol, Tactical Explosives Entry School
- Attended numerous other schools and seminars across the U.S.
- Author of five published textbooks, including Fighting Smarter.
- Author of over seventy-five magazine articles in S.W.A.T. Magazine, Combat Handguns Magazine, and others
- Participant/Presenter at the National Tactical Inviational(NTI) 2004, 2005, 2006
- Former Class A IPSC Competitor
- I.P.S.C. Tennessee/Mississippi Section Champion, 1977, 1978
- IDPA Master classification, Enhanced Service Pistol Division
- IDPA Master classification, Custom Defensive Pistol Division
- 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, in both state and federal courts
- Member of these professional associations:
- National Rifle Association
- Police Marksman Association (Life Member)
- American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
- American Society for Industrial Security
- International Wound Ballistics Association
- Has made hundreds of arrests, including numerous armed felons
- Has successfully used a handgun to defend himself and others against armed criminals
Jim Higginbotham,
Firearms & Tactics
Jim Higginbotham comes to Rangemaster with 20 years experience as a firearms instructor and over 15 years of law enforcement experience. He is currently the "Small Arms Subject Matter Expert" for the State of Kentucky. In this capacity, he trains officers of the Kentucky State Police, Kentucky National Guard Units, and members of the 20th Special Forces Group.
Firearms & Tactics
Some of his specific qualifications include:
- Graduate, Gunsite 499 and 599
- Designated "Senior Expert" by Jeff Cooper
- Attended Gunsite Provost program, taught by Gunsite
- Graduate, FBI Academy Firearms Instructor Course
- Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training certified instructor
- Graduate, Ken Hackathorn Advanced Tactical Handgun Course
- Graduate, Smith & Wesson Armorer’s School
- Master, IDPA Stock Service Pistol Division
- Winner of numerous IPSC and IDPA shooting competitions
- Published author of numerous magazine articles, plus the book "Selecting the Handgun for Concealed Carry" – 1996
- Member of these organizations:
- National Rifle Association
- International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors
- Police Marksmanship Association
- International Wound Ballistics Association
- International Defensive Pistol Association
- Pistol Master, RangeMaster's Master's Test
Cecil Booker,
Basic Personal Protection Instructor
Cecil Booker is a long time employee of the Shelby County Sheriff's Office. Cecil has over twenty years of experience in law enforcement, including nine years in Narcotics and an extended assignment to the Fugitive Task Force. Cecil is now a Lieutentant and a shift commander with the Narcotics Unit. Some of his training and certifications include:
Basic Personal Protection Instructor
- FBI Police Firearms Instructor School, FBI certified instructor
- NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Development School
- Rangemaster Firearms Instructor Development Course
- Sheriff's Dept. Training Academy, numerous courses
- Chuck Taylor Advanced Tactical Handgun Course
Col. Jim Shearin
Colonel Shearin assists with handgun courses and specializes in one-on-one coaching, for maximum performance. Jim's training and experience includes:
- Retired U.S. Army Colonel with forty years' combined active duty and reserve service
- Graduate of every course offered at Rangemaster
- Graduate, Gunsite 250
- Graduate, Andy Stanford, OPS, Low Light and CQB
- Graduate, Jim Crews, Marksman Enterprises, Advanced Pistol
- Graduate, John Farnam, DTI, Advanced Handgun Course
- Graduate, Chuck Taylor, Advanced Handgun Course
- Graduate, Ken Hackathorn, Advanced Handgun Course
John Hearne
John has been a Federal law enforcement officer with the National Park Service since 1992. He serves as a firearms instructor, armorer, and field training officer for that agency. John's education, experience, and training include:
- Federal Law Enforcement Training Center - Graduate, Firearms Instructor Training Program (Distinguished Weapons Expert)
- Graduate, FBI Police Firearms Instructor School, FBI certified Firearms Instructor
- Graduate, NRA Law Enforcement Tactical Shooting Instructor School
- Graduate, Rangemaster Basic Personal Protection Instructor Course
- Graduate, Simunitions® Scenario and Safety Course
- Mississippi POST Certified Instructor
- Recognized as a Top Practitioner at the 2006 National Tactical Invitational
- Participant/Presenter at the National Tactical Invitational (NTI) 2005, 2006, 2007
- Match Champion, 2004 Rangemaster Tactical Conference/Match
- High Lawman, 2002 Rangemaster Tactical Conference/Match
- Gunsite- 250C (Expert Certificate) and 223
- Thunder Ranch- Handgun I, II, and III and Urban Rifle I and II
- Front Sight- 4-Day Defensive Handgun (Distinguished Graduate), 2-Day Tactical Handgun (Distinguished Graduate)
- Larry Vickers/Vickers Tactical - Handgun 1
- Louis Awerbuck/Yavapai Firearms- Tactical Carbine
- Scottie Reitz/ITTS- SWAT Combat Course
- Pat Rogers/EAG Tactical- Combative Carbine
- Randy Cain/Cumberland Tactics- Tactical Handgun 101
- Jeff Gonzales/Trident Concepts- Combative Handgun
- Chuck Taylor/ASAA- Advanced Tactical Handgun
- Jim Higginbotham/Rangemaster- Dynamic Marksmanship
- Chuck Habermehl/CQB, Inc.- Groundfighting/Officer Survival
- Dane Burns/Rangemaster- Basic Hand to Hand Skills
William April
William Aprill is a former deputy sheriff and Special Deputy US Marshal (Eastern District of Louisiana). He is instructor rated by several first-tier trainers and has attended classes with many of the most influential members of the combatives training community. He has taught civilian, law enforcement, and military personal in various fighting skills since 1989 and maintains an active schedule both as instructor and student. William is also a licensed mental health professional, specializing in post-traumatic interventions among other disciplines, and is presently the clinical director of a multi-million dollar federal treatment grant.
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Instructor Ratings
- Basic Personal Protection Instructor, Rangemaster
- Certified Instructor (Combative Pistol), Suarez International
- Licensed Instructor (2nd dan), Nihon jujutsu
- Lethal Force Institute - Persuader Instructor, Weapon Retention Instructor, Weapon Disarming Instructor
- Weapons and Tactics Instructor, Tactical Response, Inc.
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Selected Training Experience
- Lethal Force Institute - LFI 1, LFI 2, LFI 3, LFI 4
(4x speed pistol qualification course 295/300, course record) - Scottie Reitz/ITTS- Basic Pistol (Firearms component of Krav Maga NTC Summer Camp)
- James Keating/Combat Technologies - Riddle of Steel
- Midwest Training Group - LFI Advanced Handgun Skills
- Jim Cirillo - Close Quarters Pistol for the Street
- Options of Personal Security - Surgical Speed Shooting I, Surgical Speed Shooting II, Defensive Knife, Tactical Carbine/Rifle I, Tactical Carbine/Rifle II, Dynamic Tactics I, Dynamic Tactics II
- Northwest Florida Defensive Pistol Shooters - Basic Pistol
- Rogers Shooting School - Tactical Weapons Training Course-Intermediate/Advanced Handgun
(Overall 3rd of 15; final rating “Intermediate” (105/125) - Suarez International - Close-Range Gunfighting, Close-Range Gunfighting (support-side/mirror image), Weapon Retention & Disarming, Instructor Development Course
- Tactical Response - Tactical Pistol, Tactical Shotgun, Tactical Firearms Instructor Course
- Thunder Ranch - Handgun 1, 2, and 3
- Texas Defensive Shooting Academy - Advanced Pistol 1
- Trident Concepts - Combative Pistol I
Craig Harper
Craig is a lead instructor for Level I courses. Harper served in the US Army as a Military Policeman and he has taken numerous private sector training courses in tactical firearms use, as well as firearms instructor certification courses and training in related topics.
NRA Certified Instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Home Safety, and Personal Protection
Fox Labs OC Instructor
State of Tennessee Certified Handgun Instructor
He has graduated from Rangemaster Level I-V handgun courses, Defensive Shotgun Course, Urban Carbine Course, Firearms Instructor Development Course, and others, plus training from diverse guest trainers including John Farnam and Gabe Suarez.
Some of Craig’s instructor certifications include:
Myrin Young
Myrin Young served more than 9 years in the military, and retired from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he was the Chief of a Physical Security and Anti-Terrorism unit in his last assignment.
Myrin's training includes:
- Graduate, Gunsite 250
- Graduate, Jim Crews Tactical AR15
- Graduate, Chapman Academy Basic Pistol and Advanced Pistol
- Graduate, Hackathorn Advanced Tactical Shooting
- Graduate, Sevigny Performance
- Graduate, Dane Burns/Rangemaster Basic Hand to Hand Skills
- Graduate, Rangemaster Dynamic Marksmanship
- Graduate, Rangemaster Defensive Shotgun
- Graduate, Rangemaster Instructor Course
- Graduate, Suarez International Close Range Shotgun
- Graduate, Suarez International Close Range Gunfighting
- Certified Handgun Instructor, Tennessee
- Life Member, National Rifle Association
- Charter Member, The Polite Society
Myrin has participated in hundreds of USPSA, IPSC, and IDPA competitions in Europe and the US, and has won several Champion and First Place awards in sanctioned matches. He also serves as a certified USPSA Range Officer, certified IDPA Safety Officer, certified IDPA Safety Officer Instructor, and IDPA Area Coordinator for Mississippi, western Kentucky, and western Tennessee. His experience includes Match Director for several Rangemaster Tactical Conferences and numerous sanctioned IDPA State Championships.
Tim Thomas
Tim is a long time shooter and has attended numerous training courses. He has taken every course Rangemaster offers, including Level I-V Handgun, Firearms Instructor Development, Defensive Shotgun, Urban Carbine, Combative Pistol I and II, etc.
Tim is one of only 10 people who have passed the exhaustive Master Test at Rangemaster and achieved the title Handgun Master. He has also trained with nationally recognized instructors, including Southnarc, Gabe Suarez, and John Farnam.
Tim is also an NRA Certified Instructor for Pistol and Personal Protection, and an ASP certified Baton Instructor. He is a State Certified Handgun Instructor.