MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

MEET YOUR INSTRUCTORS

Jerry Cooper

Jeff Jackson

Ollie Williams

Gary Wynalek

Marsha Ferrell

SFTC Instructor since 2012

Jerry Cooper

Jerry served in the United States Army and was assigned to the 1st 75th Ranger Battalion and the 24th Infantry Scout Unit. After his service in the army, Jerry spent over a decade working for the State of Ohio Department of Corrections. He was assigned as a corrections officer at both London Correctional Institution and Madison Correctional Institution near Columbus, Ohio where he also served as a firearms instructor at both facilities. Jerry was promoted to academy instructor for the corrections training academy. Here he conducted training in firearms to include handgun, shotgun and rifle and also taught defensive tactics.

Jerry spent a year in Nevada where he went through extensive training at the Front Sight Firearms Institute. After completing qualification and training courses Jerry worked at the facility as a range line coach working to assist shooters with their shooting technique. Jerry is also a graduate of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Academy based in Phoenix, AZ, which he attended during a two-year stint living in the western United States. Jerry returned to Ohio and applied to teach for the United States Department of Justice in Iraq as a police and corrections trainer. He was hired to teach Iraqi police and corrections recruits as a government contractor. Jerry taught both firearms and defensive tactics techniques. He completed two tours in Iraq.

Jerry is an NRA certified pistol and personal protection in the home instructor. He is also Range Safety Officer certified. Jerry has completed the Fit to Fight Krav Maga “Firearmed” Instructor program in North Carolina.

Jerry has extensive training in unarmed self-protection. He has black belt rankings in Judo, Kenpo, Shorin Ryu Karate, and with the Sim Do martial arts association. He is a Gracie Jiu Jitsu combatives belt holder and an expert level instructor in Israeli Krav Maga. He has completed the Tim Larkin Human Weapons Project level 1, 2, and 3 courses and the Jerry Peterson Scars level 1 course which was the first official hand to weapon training system of the US Navy Seals.

Jerry has been an instructor at Select Fire since its opening in 2012. He teaches a variety of classes to include beginning and advanced handgun courses, AR15 rifle courses, CCW and unarmed self-protection courses.

SFTC INSTRUCTOR SINCE 2018

Jeff Jackson

Jeff has been a Range Safety Officer and Firearms Instructor at Select Fire Training Center since 2018.

Jeff is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps where he served in the Infantry and Security Forces. After being honorably discharged Jeff began a 27-year career with the Lorain Police Department. Jeff worked as Patrol Officer then as a Field Training Officer where he trained over three dozen new officers. Jeff was also assigned to a plain clothes position with the Street Crimes Unit. Jeff was then promoted to Sergeant and was assigned to the Patrol Division as a Shift Supervisor. Jeff’s passion however was always with SWAT Operations. He was an Operator and then a Team Leader/Supervisor. During his career he also had the opportunity to supervise the department’s K-9 Unit.

Other assignments include being a Firearms Instructor, Sims. Instructor, Extraordinary Deployment and Active Shooter Instructor. Jeff was the Department’s BAC Datamaster Senior Operator and Fleet Manager. He also spent time serving as the Lorain City Jail’s Administrator/Warden.

SFTC INSTRUCTOR SINCE 2021

Ollie Williams

Ollie has 50+ years of shooting experience and is a lifelong hunting and shooting sports enthusiast. He served in the US Army as a Specialist/Acting Sergeant in the 8th Infantry Division, a part of the Rapid Deployment Force, from 1971-1974. He honed his skills qualifying as an expert with numerous weapons that his unit utilized.

Ollie is currently active in competitive shooting, gun collecting, reloading, target shooting, and has been an event director and range safety officer of his local gun club since 2011. An NRA Endowment Member, Ollie is proud to share his decades of experience with the Select Fire community since 2021 as both an NRA-Certified Range Safety Officer and an NRA-Certified Pistol Instructor.

SFTC INSTRUCTOR SINCE

Gary Wynalek

Gary came to Select Fire Training Center at the time of its opening after a 33-year career with the Lakewood Police Department, where he retired as a Detective Sergeant. During his tenure there he served as a Range Officer, Instructor and Department Armorer. He was a member of the Westshore Enforcement Bureau SWAT team and was a member of the sniper team.

Gary has attended numerous armorer and instructor schools and was an OPOTA certified firearms instructor. Gary currently shares his experience by instructing others and serving as an armorer here at Select Fire maintaining our vast array of weapons and those of our customers.

SFTC INSTRUCTOR SINCE 2012

Marsha Ferrell

Marsha is an accomplished instructor with an extensive background in special education and business. She has trained and assisted with Buckeye Firearms Associations “FASTER” program (Faculty/Administrator Safety Training Safety Training and Emergency Response). Marsha attended her FASTER training at the Tactical Defense Institute and the Chris Cerino Training Group. She is a certified instructor through the NRA for Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Chief Range Safety Officer, Personal Protection Inside and Outside the Home and Refuse To Be A Victim®. She is an instructor for Mace pepper spray/personal defense. Instructor for United States Concealed Carry Association – USCCA and completed the OPOTA Private Security Firearms Training (pistol and shotgun).

Marsha stays active in her community. She currently serves on the Westshore Community Emergency Response Team (CERT.) Her work with CERT also includes time on the advisory committee and with the logistics division. Marsha believes in continuing her education with courses such as Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, The Bulletproof Mind: Tactical Mindset for Armed Teachers, and FEMA’s Active Shooter course.

Marsha has been an instructor at Select Fire since the beginning. She teaches our Ladies only Basic, Intermediate, and Defensive classes in addition to offering private instruction.