Alan spent twelve years in the New Zealand Army, the last nine being with the Special Air Service (S.A.S.). He served several tours with the counter terrorist team, and finally as assault group commander was responsible for the training and management of all entry team personnel. Since 1992, he has been a member of the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Department (Mississippi) where he currently holds the rank of Captain (reserve status). Operational duties include patrol and SWAT where he acts as an entry man and breacher. From 1993-2003, Alan worked for the U.S. Department of State’s Anti Terrorism Assistance Program that trained foreign law enforcement officers in skills associated with counter terrorism. Alan is still active in the VIP protection field and has performed security details in over twenty countries worldwide. In October 2005, Alan sold the Tactical Explosive Entry School to the Olive Group and is now the Director of Training for the Olive Security Training Center.
Todd Taylor, Lead Instructor, Law Enforcement Division
Todd M. Taylor is retired after 20 years of service as a Senior Police Officer from the Des Moines, Iowa Police Department. He held positions as Assault Team Member, Sniper / Observer, Assault Team Leader and specialist firearms instructor. He is a former United States Marine and is a retired Weapons Instructor from the 132nd Security Forces Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard. Todd has conducted Law Enforcement, Military and Government Protective Services Missions in the United States, Latin America and Central Asia. Most recently he was the Lead Firearms Instructor at the Afghanistan Presidential Protective Services Academy in Kabul.
John Nettles, Lead Instructor, Military Division
John Nettles has over 20 years of experience with the US Army Special Forces, Government Agencies and Private Security companies. Since 2002, he has stood up, led and advised Indigenous National Level Counter Terrorist Units in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He was the senior instructor for one of the Army Special Forces CQB courses and Special Operations Target Interdiction level II Sniper course. John is currently with the 20th SFG (A) . He has also conducted PSD, Surveillance and Surveillance Detection missions in over nine countries for Department of State as well as numerous Security companies. John brings with him a vast amount of combat experience from the first Gulf War (long range surveillance team leader), operations in West Africa, and most recently Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom. John is responsible for all military operations training and MOUT site activities.
John Mayer, Lead Instructor, Breaching Cell
John is retired U.S. Army Special Forces Engineer Sergeant from Ft. Bragg, NC. During his 20 years of service, he deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm and in the past 11 years he has deployed on several missions in Central and South America. John has successfully completed various courses of instruction including the Special Forces Engineer Course, Special Forces advanced Shooting/CQB course, Demining school, Advanced Urban Combat Course, Advanced breaching with both TEES and NSA, and the NRA instructor course with pistol, rifle and shotgun. For John’s last two years of service, he served as a breaching and CQB instructor for the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne). John currently serves as the lead instructor of the breaching cell for OSTC.
Alan Minnick, Program Manager, Driving Cell
Alan Minnick began his adult career in 1973 as a U.S. Marine providing security for sensitive weapons, served as an Infantry Sergeant, and as an “AIT Instructor” instructing three weapons systems to recruits. Following an Honorable Discharge in 1977, he began a 25 year career in Law Enforcement in central Virginia. During his Law Enforcement Career he served for 10 years with the Waynesboro, Va. Police Department and became an instructor at the Central Shenandoah Criminal Justice Academy. In 1988 he was selected as the Assistant Director for the Academy where he served for 15 years. Minnick’s duties at the academy included supervision of the Training Operation which was responsible for training 57 Jurisdictions and totaling approximately 1800 Criminal Justice Personnel. He held “Train-the-Trainer” Certifications in Driving, Firearms, Defensive Tactics, and Two styles of Police Baton. Additionally, he instructed numerous legal topics. By the time he retired he held 25 years experience in both classroom and performance based instruction
Wil McKenzie, Instructor, Driving Cell
Wil is the latest addition to the OSTC instructor staff. Wil’ s most recent role was as a Department of Defense contract driving instructor at the U.S. Army’s driving school located at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. During that time he was responsible for the development and implementation of all facets of driving as they pertain to the Military Police role and protective services missions. Prior to that, Wil served as a civil police officer in Alabama and also as a U.S. Army Military Police Officer.
David Ledbetter, Instructor, Military Division
David is a former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment and 5th Special Forces Group who spent a total of nine years in the United States Army.
During that time, he has been certified in many skills associated with advanced marksmanship, close quarter battle and MOUT operations. As a Special Forces Operator, Dave was assigned as a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat Instructor (SFAUC) to prepare soldiers for combat operations in an urban environment.
Dave is a recipient of the Bronze Star and has conducted combat operations in
Jim Purdy, Instructor, Tactics and Breaching Cells
Jim Purdy spent a total of 5 years at SEAL Team 5. During his time at SEAL Team 5 he was involved in 3 operational SEAL deployments, in which he deployed to countries all over the Pacific and the Middle East. His last SEAL deployment was to Iraq, in which he participated in the November 04' Fallujah assault and also countless sniper missions in-support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. Jim also has experience in breaching, PSD, and communications roles.
Max Joseph, Instructor, Tactics and Breaching Cells
Max has been an adjunct instructor for T.E.E.S. since 1993. His expertise as a weapons, tactics and explosive instructor were gained from his seven years as a Sergeant / Team Leader with U.S.M.C. Recon. In addition to the above certifications, Max is also a graduate of the U.S.M.C. Scout Sniper Instructor School, U.S. Army Ranger / Airborne School and the U.S. Navy Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School. Max was an instructor for the U.S. Department of State's Anti Terrorism Assistance Program and the owner and Training Director for the Tactical Firearms Training Team.
John Cook, Instructor, Tactics and Breaching Cells
John is a lieutenant with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Central Florida where he has worked since 1984. His previous assignments include Task Force Agent for the Tampa Florida Office of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and commander of The Narcotics Investigations Section of his own agency. He recently retired from the SWAT/ERT team after 15 years where he held the position of assistant commander. John is a certified instructor in firearms, rappelling, chemical weapons, narcotics investigation and enforcement, and other areas relating to tactics and officer survival. Shortly after September 11, 2001 John was called upon to instruct in the area of firearms training for the Federal Air Marshall program and he is presently an instructor for the United States Department of State Anti Terrorism Assistance Program DOS/ATAP in Baton Rouge Louisiana.
Stewart Blackton, Instructor, Breaching Cell
Stewart started his career in the Orange County Sheriff’s Office in June 1980. Since that time he has been assigned to Uniform Patrol, Narcotics, MBI, CID/Sex Crimes, Ranch Unit, SWAT, Underwater Search and Recovery Team, and currently commands the Hazardous Device Team. Stewart has successfully completed various courses of instruction including U.S. Army’s Hazardous Device School, U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit Sniper Course, Nuclear Agent Handlers School, Live Nerve Agent School, Advanced Explosive Destruction Techniques Course, and numerous Explosive Breaching Courses. Stewart has authored several articles published in The Detonator, and Florida SWAT magazines. He sits on the SWAT Round-up Committee and is an adjunct instructor for Institute of Police Technology and Management (IPTM), Florida SWAT Association, Valencia Community College, National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA), and the Tactical Explosive Entry School (TEES).
Rob Ulisney, Instructor, Tactics and Breaching Cells
Rob is a current full time law enforcement SWAT officer with the Montgomery County Police Department in Maryland. As a former member of the United States Navy SEALs, Rob was deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Desert Shield / Storm. He was also a member of a small unit that was quickly assembled and deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia during the initial rebel uprising. Rob became a police officer in 1994 and in 1996, he joined the ranks of the MCPD SWAT unit where he is currently their lead explosive breacher and an entry team member. He is also a graduate of the Baltimore County Sniper school, a less lethal instructor, chemical agent instructor and a Maryland State certified firearms instructor.
Jeff Nyce, Instructor, Tactics and Breaching Cells
Officer Jeff Nyce is an active 23 year veteran of the Montgomery County Department of Police. He is a team leader with over 20 years S.W.A.T. experience having participated in 12 operational explosive breaches and almost 3000 entries. He was a member of the assault team that captured the "Snipers," Malvo and Mohammed. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper Instructor School, Baltimore County Sniper School, numerous explosive entry schools and has received training for S.W.A.T. Operations in the CBRNE Environment. He possesses a Maryland State Blaster's Permit, and is an instructor in firearms, CQB, and chemical agents.
Paul Reel, Instructor
Paul served with the DeSoto County (MS) Sheriff’s Department from 1998-2003. During that time he served in patrol, criminal investigations as a Lieutenant and spent 4 ½ years as a member of the SWAT team. His duties for the SWAT team included entry, sniper and explosive breacher. Paul’s final appointment was as assistant Team Leader of the team. In addition to his duties for TEES, Paul also serves as a reserve deputy for his former department.
Jose Arape, Instructor
Jose is a decorated veteran who spent 14 years in Venezuelan law enforcement (military intelligence, metropolitan police department and as Chief of Police at Lagunilla PD). Jose has held the following positions – chief of special operations, chief of motorcycle unit, firearms and tactics instructor and also served as a member of the anti kidnapping / extortion unit on the Colombian and Venezuelan border. He has received training in many special operation subjects including hostage rescue, counter terrorism, IED’s, firearms related skills and has traveled to the United States to participate in the Department of State Anti Terrorism Assistance Program. Jose currently resides in Florida and is the TEES chief instructor for all Spanish speaking firearms related courses.
José es un condecorado veterano con 14 años de experiencia policial en Venezuela (Inteligencia Militar, Policía Metropolitana, Policía Municipal de Baruta, Policía Municipal de Lagunillas). Ha ocupado los siguientes cargos: Jefe de Policía (Lagunillas), Jefe de Operaciones Especiales, Jefe de Brigada Motorizada, Instructor de Armas de Fuego y Táctica Policial. También ha operado activamente como miembro de la Brigada Anti-Secuestro y Extorsión en la frontera entre Venezuela y Colombia. Ha recibido entrenamiento en varias áreas de Operaciones Especiales, incluyendo Rescate de Rehenes, Antiterrorismo, Artefactos Explosivos Improvisados (IED’s), especialista en armas de fuego. De igual manera, ha participado en el Programa de Asistencia Antiterrorista del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos. Actualmente, José vive en el estado de La Florida (USA) y es el Instructor Jefe de TEES para todos los cursos relacionados con armas de fuego dictados en español
Eric Moore, Curriculum Development Manager
Eric is the Curriculum Development Manager for OSTC. He holds a Masters of Adult Education, Masters of Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. Eric’s career started in 1984 as a police officer in Nevada where he worked in patrol, narcotics, and SWAT. He was a shift commander for a police department in Indiana until 1999 when he accepted a teaching position at Ball State University. After teaching, he worked in force protection for a Department of Defense contractor in the Middle East. Most recently, Eric worked for the Indiana Department of Correction in curriculum development.
Pam Vaughan, Training Coordinator
Pam is the Training Coordinator at OSTC. She will assist you when registering for courses at the OSTC facility or when hosting a course at your location. Pam has over 10 years customer service experience and is a vital component of the OSTC training division. Prior to her position at OSTC, Pam worked for the Polk County, Florida Clerk's Office.
