Curriculum Vitae

Teaching Experience

Mark has been certified by the Minnesota State Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to teach conceal carry content to prospective permit holders.  Mark has trained over 4,000 students for certification under Minnesota’s Concealed Carry Statute.  His classroom sessions are 7 hours in length and he has conducted 295 such sessions resulting in 2,065 hours of classroom experience since 2003 in this area alone.  Mark is expert on the topics of appropriate use of deadly force, alternatives to deadly force including chemical weapons and electronic control devices. 

Mark has been certified by the State of Minnesota Department of Public Safety as a Certified Instructor Organization since 2005 and in this capacity he trains other instructors for certification as approved conceal carry educators.

Mark has been certified by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the Nation Rifle Association (NRA) and the American Academy of Certified Firearms Instructors (AACFI).

Mark also instructs law enforcement officers following their retirement so that they may qualify to carry firearms pursuant to HR218. 

Mark has been utilized as an expert witness and consultant in both State and Federal courts in issues involving firearms and use of force including personal instruction to Federal Judge David Doty (this is likely the only time an instructor of any type has been allowed to handle and manipulate loaded firearms or active ECDs in a Federal Courtroom).

Mark has also been a technical advisor on two Minneapolis Police Department officer safety training films, “Exotic Ammunition on the Street” and “Firearms and Weapons in Commercial Vehicles”.

Certification, Awards and Employment

Mark was trained in light and medium weapons and destructive devices by the U.S. Army 1971-1974.  Mark has received several police awards of merit.  Mark is a licensed firearms dealer and manufacturer and has been actively engaged in the firearms business for over 30 years selling and manufacturing both conventional and exotic weapons including fully automatic weapons, pen guns, cane guns and chemical and electronic incapacitation devices