Tim is a dynamic and purpose-driven instructor, trainer, leader and author—committed not only to equipping students with life-saving and life-enhancing skills, but ensuring every student leaves with an extraordinary, confidence-building experience. Drawing on proven instructional methods and content, Tim tailors each session to the unique needs, motivations, and aspirations of his students.

From first-time gun buyers with no experience to advanced immersive, scenario-based force-on-force training, Tim helps students cultivate highly effective skills and be confident in their ability to employ those skills in complex and chaotic environments when it matters most. His sessions consistently deliver an extraordinary participant experience, focused on student-centered objectives and needs, and high standards.

Relevant Firearms, Tactical, and Instructional/Mentoring Experience

Tim has co-authored and/or edited several notable publications including:

• Gunspeak 101: A Dictionary for New Gun Owners alongside Jeff Kirkham, Professor Paul Markel and others
• Victims No More: Fighting Back Against an Active Shooter with Dave Acosta
• Black Autumn manuscripts with Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross
• X-Tac force-on-force training manual and book

These works showcase his ability to translate complex safety philosophies and processes into clear, practical guidance.

As a contributing developer, lead trainer, and now part of the leadership team with Dave Acosta’s FightBackNation, Tim has helped provide transformative training to more than 9,000 teachers and administrators at schools in multiple states- empowering them with the mindset and skills to confidently and effectively defend our children and themselves from active shooter violence.

He is the founder and lead trainer of In Action Training, a custom force-on-force program employing scenario-based realism and tailored feedback, primarily via the X-Tac system- where he was one of the first certified instructors.  Tim’s signature approach fosters a realistic experience that leaves participants not only better prepared, but profoundly confident in their ability to act in complex and chaotic environments.

His experience also includes collaborating on counter-ambush and related training with multiple Utah law enforcement units following the “mostly peaceful” BLM protests, working alongside Dave Acosta to prepare Brazilian SWAT teams for tactical competitions in Utah, and serving as a guest instructor for several esteemed firearms trainers.

Personal Skill Development

As a lifelong student himself, Tim has completed MANY professional courses—often at or near the top of his class, with many distinguished graduate awards. He has trained under elite instructors and operators including:

• Jeff Kirkham and Evan Hafer (Green Berets)
• Chad W and Omar V (SEALs)
• Professor Paul Markel (Marine)
• Steve Holland and Eric D’Oro (Marine snipers)
• “Chip” Lasky (SOF-TNVC)
• Dave Acosta (SWAT/contractor)
• N‑Tac cadre, and others

He has hundreds of hours of formal and informal training alongside special-operators and other top-tier instructors, many of whom have become close friends.  He has logged hundreds of thousands of trigger presses and is proficient across handguns, tactical rifles, precision rifles, and shotguns. He consistently seeks to refine his own knowledge, skill, and abilities and enhance the experience and outcomes of those he trains.

Community Engagement and Additional Leadership Roles

• Invited member, Draper City Emergency Management Committee
• Director of Security for a faith organization
• Director of School Safety and Security and Assistant Superintendent- Utah’s largest and most awarded charter school system (5,000+ students); founder family and former board member

These roles underscore Tim’s steadfast commitment to community protection, preparedness, and improvement.

Philosophy

The right to defend oneself and loved ones from violence and aggression is inherent, not granted.  The choice to wield powerful tools like firearms as a means of defense is inseparable from the equally powerful responsibility of possessing and using those tools thoughtfully, skillfully, and ethically.

Owning a guitar no more makes you a musician, than owning a gun makes you a competent wielder of it.  Both require dedication to training and practice to gain and maintain minimally acceptable skills and improve over time.

Gun ownership, particularly when carrying in public, carries a massive, inescapable moral imperative: acquire quality training, practice regularly, and test one’s abilities so that skill reflects the profound consequences its use can entail. Untrained or undertrained firearm possession—especially in public—is a failure of both civic responsibility and defender’s intent. Fortunately, high‑quality, accessible training is readily available. Find a quality professional instructor who is knowledgeable and has the heart of a teacher and learn how to be a confident and capable defender, not just a tool-holder.

Beyond Firearms

Areas where Tim has applied his leadership and mentoring passions beyond guns and tactics:

• Founded and coached a high-school mountain bike race team
• Created and led Scout pack
• Co-leads faith-based men’s leadership and activities group
• Leads a weekly men’s discipleship group

Former service-based professions include:

• Financial services (owner)
• Environmental, Health and Safety Director (Fortune 100 company)
• HR Director (Fortune 100 company)
• District Operations Manager (Fortune 100 company)

Outside instruction and serving, his passions include mountain biking, backpacking, hiking, survival/bushcraft, Spartan races, motorcycles (raced motocross and superbikes), gardening, building and other hands-on projects, and a lot more.

Most importantly, Tim cherishes family: he’s a proud father of two amazing daughters, a son who’s an Air Force Combat Controller serving under the elite 24th Special Tactics Squadron, and has recently become a grandfather.

 Tim’s rare combination of firearms and tactical expertise, heart for teaching and mentoring, and unwavering dedication to delivering extraordinary participant experiences makes him an exemplary instructor. The goal of every session is to leave students more skilled, composed, confident, and committed to defending life effectively and responsibly.