Meet the Firearms Academy Staff

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 is a Private Security Handgun Instructor for the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission and has instructor certifications from Tom Givens/Rangemaster, MAG Deadly Force Instructor, Patrol Rifle and RDS Instructor from Centrifuge Training, Shot-IQ Pistol Instructor, 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, Mike Pannone, Earnest Langdon, John Holschen, 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.

Outside of FAS, Erik works full time in the industry at a firearms manufacturing company.

TOM WALLS

 Tom's interest in guns began when he received his first gun at age six. He began his training at F.A.S. in March of 2003, going on to complete our entire handgun and shotgun curriculum, most of the rifle training and our handgun retention classes. He teaches in our handgun and handgun retention programs.

Tom is a 4th Dan Black Belt in TaeKwon-Do under Master Kim Hong Sik, and taught that martial art for 13 years. He has trained in Judo, Kajukenbo, Hwarang Do, tai chi ch'uan, and received training from Marc MacYoung, Rory Miller, and others. His formal firearms training includes time with Massad Ayoob (multiple graduate and a Staff Range Coach for Massad Ayoob Group ), Ken Hackathorn, Chuck Taylor, Clint Smith, and Jim Cirillo. Tom is a graduate of Instructor Development courses from John Farmans’ DTI, Tom Givens Rangemaster organizations, and Gunsite Academy, as well as a multiple graduate of those schools. He is a certified NRA Pistol Instructor, Shot IQ Instructor, and a MAG Judicious Use of Deadly Force Instructor.

A former commissioned Reserve police officer/training officer, Tom spent 38 years practicing pharmacy to pay his ammunition bills.  In his private time he enjoys studying the practical/legal/moral aspects of self-defense, and history. He is proud of having the good sense to marry his favorite shooting partner.

DIANE WALLS

 Diane came to Firearms Academy after teaching TaeKwon-Do for 13 years for Grandmaster Hong Sik Kim. She earned a 4th Degree black belt in that art, as well as colored belts in Kajukenbo and cross training with Tony Blauer, Marc McYoung, Rory Miller, Terry Trahan, and others.

She took her first class at FAS in March of 2003 and has completed the entire handgun program as well as the handgun retention program and most of the rifle and shotgun programs. She began teaching women’s programs for FAS shortly thereafter and joined the instructional staff officially in 2005. She has extensive training with Massad Ayoob, including a Judicious Use of Deadly Force Instructor credential. She has also studied instructor level courses given by Tom Givens, John Farnam, and, most recently, Gunsite Academy. A multiple Gunsite graduate, she has also studied with Clint Smith, Chuck Taylor, Ken Hackathorn, Jim Cirillo, and others.

Diane is happily retired from freelance writing for gun industry publications with multiple articles published on gun reviews and training articles for Women & Guns Magazine, USCCA Concealed Carry Magazine and Harris Publications. Her focus is now on teaching handgun programs for FAS and continued training to support her passion for this ultimate martial art.

Married to her favorite shooting partner, Tom, for over 40 years, they are often teamed as instructional staff for the FAS programs.

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 FAS, Chris has had training with a variety of instructors: He’s taken multiple classes with Tom Givens/Rangemaster and holds an Advanced Instructor certification. Chris is also a multiple course graduate with James Yeager/Tactical Response, Massad Ayoob, Steve Fisher, John Farnam, and Ed Monk. In addition, Chris has trained with Ken Hackathorn, Craig Douglas, Terry Trahan, Eric Pfleger, Gabe White, Karl Rehn, Lee Weems, Joel Turner, Jared Reston, Front Sight, Appleseed Project, Dark Angel Medical, and several others.

Chris is a certified NRA pistol Instructor, Shot IQ Pistol Instructor, and is certified at FAS to teach Handgun, Rifle, and Shotgun classes. Chris is a lifelong student of the art, a life member of the N.R.A., 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 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.

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.

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.

RICK BRESSLER

 Rick has been a familiar face around Firearms Academy since he started taking classes in 1991. He began teaching for us in 1998. There are few F.A.S. classes Rick has not completed, and many of his credits include programs that have since been incorporated into other classes in Firearms Academy curriculum.

His outside study has included training with Clint Smith, Chuck Taylor, Massad Ayoob, Ken Hackathorn, Evan Marshall, Tom Givens, John Farnam, Dane Burns, Eric Remmen, Clyde Caceres, Marc MacYoung, Larry Smith, Gary Lum, William Burris, Jim Higginbotham, Jim Cirillo and Jeff Cooper.

Now retired, he includes hand loading ammunition among his hobbies.

MARTY HAYES

 Marty Hayes is the founder of The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. After spending years as a police officer, competitive shooter and police firearms instructor, he started sharing his knowledge of firearms and self-defense related issues on a professional basis, and in 1990 started the Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. For three decades he has been teaching firearms and self-defense to the Seattle/Portland area population, with thousands of satisfied students.

Marty's credentials to teach firearms, self-defense, and use of force include certification through the Washington State Criminal Justice Commission as a police firearms instructor, certification through Monadnock PR-24 Training Council as a PR-24 and defensive tactics instructor, certification through National Law Enforcement Training Center as a weapons retention, knife/counter knife, pepper spray and handcuffing instructor, Taser instructor certification, along with multiple certifications from the Lethal Force Institute. He is a staff instructor for the Massad Ayoob Group, and formerly an adjunct instructor for Defense Training International.

He has presented and taught for The American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers, the Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association and the International Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association. He also occasionally works as an expert witness/consultant in firearms, deadly force and police use of force cases, and holds a law degree.