BELLE T. MCCORMACK
Belle McCormack is the Owner, Director, and Lead Instructor for The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. She started teaching with us in 2016 and came on staff full time in 2017 as our Operations Manager. In 2021 she took over as President of the company and finalized the sale of the company with Marty in 2022. Belle was formerly a Private Security Certified Handgun Instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and taught in their Instructor Certification Program. She also holds an instructor certification from Tom Givens/Rangemaster, Massad Ayoob Group Deadly Force Instructor, Shot-IQ Pistol Instructor, and is a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor. She has received additional training from Massad Ayoob, John Farnam, Chuck Taylor, Gunsite, Terry Trahan, Rory Miller, Marc Macyoung, Karl Rehn, Erick Gelhaus, Ed Monk, Steve Fisher, Jared Reston, Tim Herron, AJ Zito, Chuck Pressberg, Kerry Davis, Mike Pannone, Bill Blowers, Robert Vogel, Scott Jedlinski, Alex Hartman of Ridgeline, and Joel Turner of Shot IQ.
Belle has over 20 years of experience in training, coaching, and other adult education in a variety of fields. Before coming to FAS, she was the volunteer rangemaster at Jefferson County Sportsmans’ Association from 2014 to 2016 and assisted at Arms Pro, LCC, a gunsmith in Port Townsend, WA.
ERIK L. KNISE
Erik Knise is the Operations Manager, resident tech guy, and a Staff Instructor for FAS. He started training here in 2016 and after completing nearly the entire FAS curriculum in 2017 he was invited into the FAS Apprenticeship Program where he received his instructor certifications in Handgun, Rifle, and Shotgun in 2018. Erik has instructor certifications from Tom Givens/Rangemaster, MAG Deadly Force Instructor, Patrol Rifle and RDS Instructor from Centrifuge Training, Shot-IQ Pistol Instructor, Handgun & Patrol Shotgun Instructor from WA CJTC, and is a NRA Certified Pistol Instructor.
His outside training includes Massad Ayoob, John Farnam, Chuck Taylor, Tom Givens, Gunsite, Rob Leatham, Larry Vickers, Jared Reston, Steve Fisher, Zach Campbell, Tim Herron, AJ Zito, Mike Pannone, Earnest Langdon, John Holschen, Erick Gelhaus, Gabe White, Caleb Causey, William Aprill, Paul Sharp, Varg Freeborn, Lee Weems, John Hearne, Karl Rehn, Ed Monk, John Murphy, Marc MacYoung, Terry Trahan, Kerry Davis, Dan Smith/Centrifuge, Bones LSP/Centrifuge, Joel Turner Shot-IQ, and has taken multiple shoot house classes, including force on force, with Joe Weyer of Alliance Police Training and Steve Fisher of Sentinel Concepts.
Erik is the only person to have passed Chuck Taylor’s Handgun Combat Masters Test with a traditional DA/SA (Beretta 92A1). He is a Master class IDPA shooter and won the Stock Service Pistol division at the 2018 Washington State IDPA Championship hosted here at FAS. He also holds Tim Herron's Barrel Drill Patch #28.
BRIAN YIP
Brian started as a student in 2007 and spent the next years completing the F.A.S. handgun curriculum. Brian was invited into the F.A.S. Apprenticeship Program in the end of 2016 where he has received his instructor certification in Handgun in 2018. Brian also holds an instructor certification from Tom Givens/Rangemaster and is a NRA Pistol Instructor.
His outside training includes Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Marc MacYoung, Rory Miller and others. He is also a Gunsite 499 graduate along with other courses attended throughout the US.
Outside of F.A.S., Brian has worked in the industry as a Regional Sales Manager for the past 7+ years with background knowledge in firearm accessories and firearms.
CHRIS HAROLD
Chris Harold came to his first class at FAS in 2011, and has been a familiar face ever since. He was invited to join the FAS staff in 2020. Chris comes to us with a background in adult education, and for most of his adult life he’s been teaching in one form or another, including four years working with novice shooters at an indoor range.
Outside of his training at FAS, Chris has taken multiple classes with Tom Givens/Rangemaster, James Yeager/Tactical Response, Massad Ayoob, John Farnam, Steve Fisher, Jared Reston, Ed Monk, the Appleseed Project, and Dark Angel Medical. In addition, he has studied with Ken Hackathorn, Craig Douglas, Tim Herron, Eric Pfleger, Karl Rehn, Gabe White, Lee Weems, Joel Turner, Terry Trahan, Dustin Saloman, Steve Shields, Front Sight, and several others.
Chris has an Advanced Instructor certification with Rangemaster, is a certified MAG Deadly Force Instructor, Shot IQ Pistol Instructor, and an NRA certified Pistol Instructor. At FAS Chris teaches Handgun, Rifle, and Shotgun courses with a master rating in each. Chris was also certified by former FAS director Marty Hayes as a Defensive Revolver Instructor. Chris is a lifelong student of the art, a life member of the NRA, and is passionate about the 2nd Amendment. He enjoys helping students reach their potential when it comes to the defensive use of a firearm.
BRIAN E. BOLDT
Brian began as a student at FAS in 2020 and completed the full program in 2023. He has achieved master-level certifications in defensive handgun (right- and left-handed), revolver, shotgun, and rifle, and was invited into the FAS Apprenticeship Program where he received his instructor certifications in Handgun and Rifle in 2025.
He is also an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, MAG Deadly Force Instructor, and a Glock Certified Advanced Armorer, having completed their curriculum in Smyrna, GA. He has studied with Massad Ayoob, Joel Turner, Mike Pannone, Steve Fisher, Jared Reston, Craig Douglas, Erick Gelhaus, Greg Ellifritz, Tim Herron, Marc MacYoung, John Murphy, Ed Monk, Mark Fricke, Darrel Bolke, Rob & Matt Haught, Dark Angel Medical, Ridgeline Defense, and holds an Expert Rifleman Ranking with Project Appleseed.
Brian has a diverse background beyond firearms, ranging from music education to martial arts, and works as a professional fitness coach. He has a passion for body mechanics and helping students achieve their best in their ability to defend themselves.
Bill Martin
Son of a Soldier in the US Army, Bill grew up around Military bases and started shooting a 1911 with his Dad at around the age of 12. He became an Officer in the US Army, participated in Operation Desert Shield / Storm, and later served full-time in the National Guard. Bill retired as a full “bird” Colonel with two Masters degrees, and a desire to continue serving.
Bills shooting experience includes being invited to compete in the 1984 Olympic tryouts for smallbore and air rifle. Since 2018, Bill has been training with FAS, learning from both Staff and Guest instructors such as Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Marty Hayes, Zach Campbell, Steve Fisher, Ed Monk, Jared Reston, John Murphy and Joel Turner among others
Bill was accepted as an apprentice in 2021, and joined the staff in 2022. He enjoys helping other shooters who wish to develop and increase both their shooting abilities, and legal understandings, as responsibly Armed Citizens. Here at FAS, he believes we teach and learn how to do both.
Bills personal motto is: Do the Right things, in the Right way, for the Right reasons – and Constantly Strive for Improvement. That seems to fit well for shooters here at FAS.
DAN NELSON
Like many, Dan has been shooting guns most of his life. He has always enjoyed the technical and challenging aspects of working with firearms. He served in the Navy and has hunted upland birds across the country for over 30 years, most recently with his beloved dog Nellie. However, it wasn’t until he started professionally training with firearms later in life that he decided to pursue this interest as more than a hobby. He has thoroughly enjoyed being a student at FAS and is now excited to share his passion for teaching and helping others achieve their goals at the same institution where he has learned so much.
In addition to the outstanding in-house training at FAS since 2018 Dan’s previous experience includes training with the Massad Ayoob Group, the Reston Group, Threat Dynamics, and street survival skills with John Murphy. Dan is also a certified NRA instructor.
When Dan is not at the range, he is running a 32-year established HVAC company on the Oregon coast.