INSTRUCTORS

CALIBER FIREARMS ACADEMY is home to a team of highly skilled instructors who are passionate about firearms training. With their extensive knowledge of firearms and firearm safety, they teach students of all skill levels, from novice to advanced shooters. You can rely on us to provide top-notch firearms training that meets your needs.

Howie Williams

Howie is a distinguished veteran of Desert Storm with a wealth of experience in combat support operations.

He has also served as an assistant manager and head training officer of the Naval Air Station Norfolk Anti-Terrorism Security Department, where he worked closely with the secret service to ensure the safety of the President of the United States during Presidential visits and base patrol.

Howie’s approach to training is characterized by his compassion, thoroughness, and practicality, and he is highly regarded for his expertise in everyday handgun carry techniques.

  • President & Director of Training
  • USISB Director of Security
  • Active Shooter Instructor
  • Active Shooter Response Instructor
  • De-Escalation Instructor
  • TN & MS State Certified Firearms Instructor
  • TN State Certified Security Trainer
  • TN State Certified De-Escalation Trainer
  • TN State Certified Security Guard Safe Restraint Trainer
  • TN State Certified Capsicum “Pepper” Spray Security Guard Trainer
  • Church Security Team / Leader Instructor
  • AVERT Authorized Instructor
  • USCCA Training Counselor (Firearms Instructor Certifier)
  • USCCA Firearms Instructor
  • USCCA Emergency First Aid / CPR Instructor
  • USCCA Range Safety Officer
  • USCCA Mental Wellness Instructor
  • Force On Force Instructor
  • Capsicum “Pepper” Spray Instructor
  • Executive Dignitary Security Agent
  • FBI Pistol Qualified
  • Tactical Anatomy Advisor
  • Shelby County VOAD Administrator
  • BMBC Crisis Management Director

Samuel Ivy

Samuel is a distinguished firearms instructor and security professional, certified by the states of Tennessee and Mississippi, USCCA, and an authorized AVERT instructor. He is also an experienced United States Army Veteran, having served as a Special Weapons operator, Iraq Urban Assault Attack Team member, and Combat Convoy Commander. With his extensive background and expertise, Samuel is well-equipped to provide top-notch security services and training to his clients. As the House Worship Director of Security and Assistant Director of California Motor Escort Patrol Services, he has demonstrated his unwavering commitment to ensuring the safety and security of those under his care.

Antwan Turner

Antwan Turner is a highly qualified safety consultant, certified firearms instructor, and Deputy Director of CESA. He recognizes the significance of prioritizing one’s well-being and implementing safety measures in today’s world. Antwan is deeply committed to safeguarding those who are unable to protect themselves by adding knowledge and confidence to those who seek to learn. He emphasizes the importance of being one’s own best line of defense and looks forward to seeing individuals in their ongoing training pursuits. Antwan reminds us to remain vigilant, alert, and prepared at all times.

Chris Foster

Chris is a firearms instructor of exceptional caliber, holding multiple certifications that include State of Tennessee Certified Firearms Instructor, USCCA Firearms Instructor, USCCA Active Shooter Firearms Instructor, USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Instructor, Certified Executive Dignitary Security Agent, Security Agent of CESA (Calvary Executive Security Agency), and FBI Handgun Qualified. His extensive training and experience make him a true professional in the field of firearms and security.

Jon Holloway

Jon Holloway is a USCCA instructor and firearms and martial arts enthusiast.  He currently works in senior security management in a Fortune 300 company.  He served over 20 years in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and over 7 years as a police officer.  As a police officer in Virginia from 1992 to 1999, he was a patrolman, detective, sergeant, and shift commander, and was involved in multiple high risk, tactical, and hostage situations.  In 1999, he left to join the FBI and was assigned as a new FBI Agent to El Paso, Texas, where he became a member of the El Paso FBI SWAT Team and worked against the Juarez Drug Cartel, running undercover money laundering cases, drug investigations, and other operations for over five years.  Leaving El Paso to take a promotion, as a Supervisory Special Agent, he worked cybercrime and travelled to eastern Europe to set up joint initiatives with foreign law enforcement.  He later took over a gang task force in Youngstown, Ohio, where he led investigators in multiple complex investigations and barricaded subject situations, culminating in the complete dismantlement of seven street gangs.  Holloway was then chosen as Unit Chief of Behavioral Analysis Unit Four (BAU-4), the FBI’s serial murder and profiling unit upon which the “Criminal Minds” television show was based.  He assisted federal, state, and local investigators in serial murder, cold case homicide, serial sexual assault and other high profile investigative matters, while training international, federal, state, and local agencies.  Later, Holloway was promoted to Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) of the Springfield Field Office, leading FBI criminal investigations in the 84 counties of Illinois served by Springfield, while also overseeing all crisis response, SWAT, and firearms and tactical training.  

A lifelong martial artist, Holloway started training in Japanese martial arts when he was eight years old, has extensively studied Southeast Asian arts, to include Filipino and Indonesian arts, and has trained and taught various arts and fighting systems for over 40 years.  He was inducted as a black belt member of the Dai Nippon Butoku Kai, a Japanese martial arts society headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, and holds instructor ranks in Aiki-Jiujutsu through this organization.  He was awarded the rank of Tuhon (master level instructor) in the rarely seen or taught Filipino martial art of Albo Kali Silat and was designated the successor and head of system of this art by Hasting Albo, prior to Albo’s death.  

Holloway has instructed in multiple police academies and federal agencies, martial arts schools, and seminars.  He has taught officer survival tactics, firearms, homicide and serial murder investigation, active shooter prevention and response, knife combat and defense, grappling, unarmed combat, and other topics.  He was an FBI Certified Instructor, FBI Adjunct Faculty Member, FBI Certified SWAT Operator, a Virginia Certified Police Instructor, and a Virginia Certified Police Firearms Instructor.  He has written magazine articles for American Cop, Black Belt Magazine, and the Russian knife magazine, Prorez.  Over the course of his law enforcement career, he has defended against real attacks from multiple individuals armed with various weapons and has used these real-world experiences to inform and develop his training, allowing him to pass on lessons learned to students from all walks of life.  Holloway is certified to teach Tennessee Enhanced Concealed Carry Permit classes. He is a certified U.S Concealed Carry Association Instructor in the following disciplines:  

  • Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals Instructor
  • Range Safety Officer
  • Cablela’s Shield Certified Instructor