Trevor Thrasher has wide ranging tactical and special operations experience as both an operator and instructor.  This includes service as an Army Green Beret, Police Officer, SWAT Team Member, Body Guard, and Private Military Contractor with operational experience in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Trevor has received instructor certifications in Israeli Counter-Terrorism Tactics, Law Enforcement Firearms, Israeli Tactical Shooting, Concealed Carry Handgun, S.P.E.A.R., Police Krav Maga, FAST Defense, Pressure Point Control Tactics, U.S. Army Special Forces Military Hand to Hand Combat, and Police Take Down and Ground Control as well as various other instructor and tactical operations certifications with a heavy emphasis on CQB and Combatives.   He was the Primary Defensive Tactics Instructor at the Omaha Police Academy, and the primary tactical instructor/advisor for a group of foreign special forces conducting on-going counter terrorism operations.

Trevor currently works as a part-time police officer in the Douglas County area, serves as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant with the 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Colorado National Guard), performs contract security services for various organizations both locally and overseas, and is the Director of Special Operations for Signal 88 Security.

Clint Sparks brings diverse experience and tactical expertise as a former Navy SEAL. His eight-year service as a SEAL includes positions as a Lead Navigator, Scout/Sniper, and Lead Climber, serving extensive foreign missions including Iraq. Additional skills include expertise as a marksman, open water diver, and expert instructor/trainer.

Clint holds numerous certifications including SERE Training, SEAL Cold Weather Warfare Training, Anti-Terrorist Driving, Anti-Terrorist Executive Protection Driving, NSW certifications: Photographic Image Capture, Reconnaissance Scout/Sniper, AT Level 1 Awareness, NSW Instructor, and HRST/CAST Master Course 'HELO.' PADI certifications include Certified Advanced Open Water Diver, and Certified Rescue Diver. Additional certifications are Army Airborne, and TIER 1 Off-Road.

Clint is currently owner/manager of the SoCal Signal 88 Security in San Diego, California. He manages all aspects of management operations and continues to provide instruction in marksmanship and tactical operations.

Nick Nowatney comes to us with a wealth of knowledge from the Special Operations community. Nick has over 20 years experience with Special Forces, serving primarily in 5th Special Forces Group that has an area focus in the Middle East. He has trained with military forces from Kuwait, Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya and other countries. Nick has a working knowledge of both Arabic and Thai languages.

When assigned as an instructor for the Special Operations community, Nick chose to teach at the elite combat diver school in Key West. He was the non -commissioned officer in charge of the dive medical clinic that handled all the hyperbaric dive injuries for the Florida Keys, he rewrote and oversaw the Dive Medical Technician course and taught the three other resident diving courses.

After retiring from the military Nick moved to the United Arab Emirates and was a senior military advisor, teaching/advising their Special Forces in Counter Terrorism, Marksmanship, Air Assault, Close Quarters Battle and Combat medical skills.

Nick Nowatney is currently working on his Graduate Certificate in Terrorism Studies. When he isn't working with us he is an overseas contract worker. Nick is a life member of the National Rifle Association, North American Hunting Club, and the Special Forces Association.

Mike Sackett's broad experience and service in law enforcement spans thirty years with 24 years as a Special Agent with the FBI. His experience as an FBI agent included working violent crime cases, training, firearms and SWAT. Mike has also been an instructor for the FBI in tactics, firearms and defensive tactics for over 20 years.

Mike spent over 8 years with the FBI Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) in Quantico, Virginia as an operator, assistant team leader and team leader for an assault team that specialized in vehicles tactics, bus, train and mobile assaults. Mike has extensive experience teaching Close Quarter Battle, aircraft assaults, Executive Protection, offensive handgun, rifle and was the Defensive Tactics/Hand-to-Hand Combat program manager while on HRT. Mike’s experience on HRT included numerous major operations in the United States along with considerable foreign travel for terrorist renditions, force protection, executive protection (Director Freeh) and training with numerous counter terrorist teams from around the world. Mike has also trained and worked with many of the Army and Navy Special Operation teams and provided training for numerous FBI, State, and local SWAT teams throughout the United States.

Mike finished his career in 2012 with the FBI as the Principal Firearms Instructor, Swat Team leader and Police Training Coordinator for the Omaha Division.

Tim Fullmer comes from a law enforcement background with eleven plus years of experience. While working as a police officer Tim was a primary firearms instructor and member of the department's Emergency Services Team. Tim’s primary function on the team was as a sniper/observer. In 2010 he was hired full time with US Training Center as a firearms and tactics instructor and relocated to Northern Illinois. Tim instructed military, law enforcement, overseas contractors, and civilians, in everything from pistol to sniper rifle. Tim’s primary course of instruction was with law enforcement sniper-observer teams and the civilian precision rifle. Tim is a certified instructor in survival Low Light Conditions and Active Shooter. Tim comes to us with years of overseas contract experience, working in Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and various other locations on the East coast of Africa.

Greg Sampson has developed and taught personal safety curriculum to hundreds of civilians and law enforcement personnel. He has been a law enforcement officer since 1993 and holds instructor certificates in four defensive tactics systems including, PPCT (Pressure Point Control Tactics), Physical Conflict Resolution, Control/Defense Tactics & Krav Maga (an Israeli Combatives & Self-Defense System). Greg also serves as a Nebraska Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor, NRA Certified Handgun/Shotgun, Patrol Rifle and Tactical Shooting Instructor, Law Enforcement Use of Force Instructor.

Greg has been a firearms instructor since 1998 and has delivered hundreds of hours of direct instruction in the defensive use of firearms. He is a handgun, shotgun and AR-15/M-16 armorer. Greg also has been trained as a SWAT Counter-Terrorism Operator, Active Shooter Response Instructor and a WMD Awareness Instructor. He holds certifications in OC instruction as well. Greg instructs CCW, basic and advanced handgun and rifle training as well as OC and FAST Defense courses for 88 Tactical.

Greg currently works in the Training Division of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and is a member of the DCSO Emergency Services Unit (SWAT).

Devin Crinklaw brings decades of experience, expertise, and a wide variety of training and skills to law enforcement, military, and civilian communities.  Devin worked abroad as part of a training team in Brazil for Law Enforcement and Military Special Operations personnel as well as protection assignments in North Africa and the Middle East. Due to his government security contractor work, he is considered a Subject Matter Expert (SME) by the US State Department in Small arms, Arrest and Control/Combative skills and Edged Weapons preparing personnel for High Risk Environments deployment to Haiti, Bosnia, and Afghanistan.

In addition, Devin has developed and taught close quarter combatives and shooting curriculum to US Special Operations Forces Special Mission Units (SMUs) as well as other US government units. He is a current Blauer Tactical Systems SPEAR and Personal Defense Readiness (PDR) Coach and an adjunct instructor for the BTS Mobile Training Team. Devin holds instructor ratings in Firearms, Arrest and Control/Combative skills, Emergency Driving, CQB/Range Safety and CCW Training.

Devin is currently employed in a large metropolitan police department where he serves as a full time trainer at the Police Academy. He is currently a member of his department’s SWAT team and is the primary weapons and tactics trainer.

John Calabro, PA-C is a physician assistant at Midwest Neurosurgery & Spine Specialists. He is a graduate of the United States Interservice Physician Assistant School (US ARMY) and has trained in neurosurgery as well as emergency, tactical, and wilderness medicine.

John retired in 2010 from the U.S. Army 195th Special Operations (528th Special Operations, FT. Bragg) after 21 years of service (Active/ Reserve) having served as non-commissioned officer and retired at the rank of Major. He has been deployed to multiple countries in Central America, Asia, and Africa. He is veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in Iraq from 2005-2007. John has served with U.S. Army Reconnaissance Surveillance and Acquisition, Long Range Surveillance, and U.S. Special Operations.

John holds multiple certifications in medical and tactical special skills, has instructed U.S. military, foreign military and civilian personal, and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the United States Special Operations Medical Association.

Shawn Whittington is a licensed Tactical Paramedic and has been working professionally in EMS/Fire since 1991. He has been a part time employee and Firearms/Self Defense Instructor at a local indoor range for more than a decade were he has developed and taught his own curriculum. Shawn is an NRA Certified Instructor and a Nebraska CCW Instructor. He was heavily involved in IPSC/IDPA for many years and shot Master Class in the CDP Division.

Shawn has been a member of the Omaha Fire Department Tactical Medic program, training with and providing close medical support to three separate SWAT Teams since 2006. He is one of fewer than two dozen individuals worldwide who have successfully passed the shooting qualifiers for all six levels of STRIKE Police Tactical Pistol Gunfight Training. He has completed training courses in defensive handgun, rifle, edged weapons and unarmed combatives taught by some of the best civilian and Law Enforcement Instructors in the country.

Jason Wright is the only civilian member of our training crew with more weapons training than most law enforcement and military members. He is widely accepted within the law enforcement community because of his training, devotion and hardcore mindset. He is truly a 'jack of all trades' and contributes to 88 Tactical in everything from course development and instructing, to range design and course sales.

An avid outdoorsman, Jason has been hunting and shooting all of his life. He has also completed extensive training in handgun training and safety, combat carbine, close quarters gun fighting, and sudden violence resolutions and edged weapons tactics. Jason is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor and is credentialed to instruct both Nebraska and Utah Concealed Carry courses.

Scott Kuzminski has completed both Airborne and Ranger Schools in addition to serving two tours in Iraq with primary service as a scout sniper.  He has extensive experience with M-240 B machine gun and 249 SAW weapon systems, and is one of fewer than two dozen individuals worldwide who have successfully completed all six levels of STRIKE Police Tactical Pistol Gunfight Training.

Scott has been a deputy with the Douglas County Sheriff's office for the past five years serving as an ESU member for the past three years. His current duties include pistol/rifle instructor and ESU sniper.

After nearly two decades of criminal justice experience, Joe Baudler brings wide-range experience, knowledge, and an invaluable global perspective to his role as a training officer. His background in law enforcement began with a degree in Criminal Justice.  Army service on Afghanistan assignment included planning, delivering, and leading training on street-level counter- gang investigative tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) in a war-fighting environment. Joe also instructed and mentored appropriate law enforcement TTPs, assisted in compilation and analysis of organized criminal groups, advised on the investigative direction, attack, and neutralization of complex criminal groups and insurgency.

As an Omaha Police officer, he worked with the Gang Unit, Weed and Seed Unit, SWAT, Problem Solving Unit, Police Sniper and various other areas, focusing on drugs, guns, and gang-related violence.  He conducted numerous investigations during this time, resulting in thousands of felony convictions in both state and Federal courts.   He was an instructor at the Omaha Police Academy for over a decade, assisting in development of department standards and curriculum.

His service awards and accomplishments are many, earning him consistent commendations and letters of excellence.   He is NRA classified Expert in firearms marksmanship and Practical Police Combat two man team national sharpshooting champion.

Joe is currently a Police Lieutenant with the Ashland Police Department, Ashland, Nebraska, responsible for supervision and management of law enforcement officers, and provides training in several state accredited courses. His commitment to the community includes service to his church, youth development programs, and volunteering for a variety of community events.

Matt Sutter has 8 years of law enforcement experience, first serving as a Deputy Sheriff and currently serving as a State Police Officer (Trooper).

Matt has trained extensively with numerous State and Federal Agencies and holds many certifications in the areas of Executive Protection, Immediate Action Team/Active Shooter Response, Defensive Tactics, Defensive Driving, Motorcade Driving, and Firearms.

Matt's current assignment is within the Executive Protection Unit of a nationally accredited State Police agency, where he also serves as a state firearms instructor. He also travels extensively providing private contract security work for various types of high profile clients and dignitaries throughout the country on a case by case basis.

Kelly Gaeth brings knowledge and experience in bushcraft/survival skills, self-protective measures, and real life contingency planning for major disasters. He has developed numerous corporate and individual self defense courses (with a special emphasis in the financial industry) for corporations and business personnel to handle and prevent potential violent situations in the work place, during travel, and at home.

As an executive of one of the largest privately held financial institutions in the United States, Kelly has held positions in which he developed strategies and contingency plans for real life events such as mass pandemics, natural disasters, financial unrest, social unrest, war, terrorism, etc. Kelly’s research experience greatly contributes to realistic planning and preparations while debunking many of the myths and fantasy associated with such disastrous events.