OWNER, CO-FOUNDER

First introduced to the shooting sports at five years old by his father Dave, Jeff has since spent most of his life around firearms. Prior to enlisting in the Delaware Army National Guard with the 153rd Military Police Company at age seventeen, Jeff spent his early high school years apart of The Young Marines and Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps programs.

During his eight year enlistment, Jeff completed a year-long deployment to Iraq with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, earned his “Excellence in Competition” badge and “Governor’s Twenty” tab for competitive shooting, and was activated on numerous occasions to assist with local authorities during times of natural disasters.

His civilian experience in the firearms industry includes working as a range officer for Delaware’s Division of Fish & Wildlife for two years, attending numerous classes on firearms safety, weapons manipulation and concealed carry as well as completing his NRA Instructor Course for Basic Pistol and Personal Protection Inside the Home. Jeff is also an NRA Certified Range Officer. Jeff has also spent time working for First State Firearms & Accessories in New Castle, DE.

Jeff has been actively instructing with First State Firearms Training since its creation in 2008.

He obtained his first Concealed Carry of a Deadly Weapon Permit in Delaware at the age of eighteen and has since been issued non-resident permits in NH, PA, FL, UT & MD.

Jeff owned and operated Patriot Armory, a local Airsoft Equipment Supply Store located in Middletown, DE from 2014 to 2021. In addition to its use as a recreation sport (similar to paintball), Airsoft is a valuable tool for low cost, safe and effective weapons manipulation and concealed carry training. Patriot Armory also specialized in working directly with law enforcement and military entities, providing both equipment and training. Jeff decided to close the business in 2021 to shift his focus to expanding First State Firearms Training.

CO-FOUNDER

Dave Johnson grew up in Western New York and lived there until he attended college in Schenectady, New York where he received a degree in Civil Engineering.  Shortly after graduating he entered the United States Air Force where he served as a Civil Engineer, Environmental Engineer, and Staff Officer from 1969 until he retired in 1990 having served over twenty years and having spent five and a half of those years overseas.  He qualified expert in handgun, rifle and machine gun.  He assisted in weapons training as well as conducting chemical warfare training during his career.

He owned and operated Johnson’s Sporting Goods as a Federal Firearms License dealer for twelve years while in the Air Force, worked at Jumbo Sports for two years ending as the Hunting and Fishing Manager prior to their closing in late 1999 and most recently was a salesman for a local gun store for ten years before switching to instructing full time.

Dave is a certified NRA Range Officer and NRA Instructor for Basic Pistol and Personal Protection Inside the Home and has been teaching the class since 2008. He received his first Concealed Carry Permit in New York State in 1975 and has since been issued permits in DE, PA, FL, NH, UT, AZ & MD.