Chris Donaldson
Training Director and Firearms Instructor
Chris is a combat veteran with the United States Marine Corp. Chris has 22 years of federal law enforcement experience, rising to the rank of Captain at his retirement in 2015. Chris served as a multifaceted trainer in the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons. Chris instructed firearms, Less-Lethal munitions, Disturbance Control, Use of Force, Incident Management, Tactical planning, Team Leader, and Command Center operations.
While serving as a trainer and team leader, he attended and conducted training throughout the country at various military and government facilities. He trained Special Operations Response Teams and Riot Control teams in mechanical, ballistic, and thermal breaching. In support of Multiple Agency stakeholders from local, state, and federal levels, Chris designed exercises to test contingency and assault plans.
Chris is employed with Homestead Training and serves as an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, an NRA LE Instructor, a Range Master, and Chief of Range Operations.
While serving as a trainer and team leader, he attended and conducted training throughout the country at various military and government facilities. He trained Special Operations Response Teams and Riot Control teams in mechanical, ballistic, and thermal breaching. In support of Multiple Agency stakeholders from local, state, and federal levels, Chris designed exercises to test contingency and assault plans.
Chris is employed with Homestead Training and serves as an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, an NRA LE Instructor, a Range Master, and Chief of Range Operations.
Will Schlegelmilch
Firearms Instructor
Florida native and career Law Enforcement Officer, Will Schlegelmilch, has been a firearms instructor for over 15 years and a Law Enforcement Officer for over 21 years. Will has taught and worked throughout the State of Florida, bringing professionalism and leadership to his local community. Will spent his spare time teaching programs like D.A.R.E. and Project Alert at local schools. Will dedicated several years to training the newest generations of Law Enforcement Officers at The Florida Keys Criminal Justice Police Academy where he specialized in all High Liability Courses(Firearms, Vehicle Operations, Defensive Tactics, and Taser Techniques). In addition, Will assists in training local Police Departments and Sheriff’s Offices in specialized SWAT techniques and Active Shooter Scenario Training.
While at Homestead Training Center, Will has been certified through Centrifuge Red Dot Instructor and Glock Red Dot Instructor. He has also attended Long-Range Shooting classes in J-Tac Ranch Shooting Range and Altus Range in Okaloosa Florida. In 2021 Will also attended the Robert Vogel World Class Shooters Course.
Will has worked with multiple specialty units, including the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF), SWAT, Field Force, and Crisis Stabilization Unit. Will is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience. He has a fresh perspective and a realistic outlook on real-life situations. Will believes that through his training, he has learned that leadership and professionalism play an important part in providing safety to the community and his fellow colleagues.
While at Homestead Training Center, Will has been certified through Centrifuge Red Dot Instructor and Glock Red Dot Instructor. He has also attended Long-Range Shooting classes in J-Tac Ranch Shooting Range and Altus Range in Okaloosa Florida. In 2021 Will also attended the Robert Vogel World Class Shooters Course.
Will has worked with multiple specialty units, including the Multi-Agency Gang Task Force (MAGTF), SWAT, Field Force, and Crisis Stabilization Unit. Will is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience. He has a fresh perspective and a realistic outlook on real-life situations. Will believes that through his training, he has learned that leadership and professionalism play an important part in providing safety to the community and his fellow colleagues.
Luis Tiru-Lopez
Firearms Instructor
Luis is employed with Homestead Training Center as a NRA range safety officer, NRA instructor, and FL-K instructor.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico with a career in Law Enforcement, Luis A. Tiru-Lopez, has been a firearms instructor for over 15 years. In Puerto Rico, Luis trained Police Officers and civilians across the island, his lifelong passion has been in the world of firearms. He holds the title of Master in Pistol awarded to him by the Puerto Rico firearms instructor Federation.
After relocating to South Florida in 2014 he was certified by the NRA to be a Law-Enforcement Instructor and is licensed as an FL-K instructor. In his spare time, Luis likes to spend time at the range practicing tactics and concepts to develop new ideas for training. He believes that through training we can come together as a community to provide a safer environment for all.
Among his qualifications, Luis has his certification in his K-License & G-License, Pistol, Tactical Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun; Law Enforcement Red-Dot Instructor, Glock Red-Dot Instructor Operator, Glock Armorer and Low-Light Instructor. He has also received training by Centrifuge Training LLC and Grandmaster Robert Vogel.
Luis is HTC’s main Spanish instructor on the property and teaches both private and public courses in Spanish.
Born and raised in Puerto Rico with a career in Law Enforcement, Luis A. Tiru-Lopez, has been a firearms instructor for over 15 years. In Puerto Rico, Luis trained Police Officers and civilians across the island, his lifelong passion has been in the world of firearms. He holds the title of Master in Pistol awarded to him by the Puerto Rico firearms instructor Federation.
After relocating to South Florida in 2014 he was certified by the NRA to be a Law-Enforcement Instructor and is licensed as an FL-K instructor. In his spare time, Luis likes to spend time at the range practicing tactics and concepts to develop new ideas for training. He believes that through training we can come together as a community to provide a safer environment for all.
Among his qualifications, Luis has his certification in his K-License & G-License, Pistol, Tactical Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun; Law Enforcement Red-Dot Instructor, Glock Red-Dot Instructor Operator, Glock Armorer and Low-Light Instructor. He has also received training by Centrifuge Training LLC and Grandmaster Robert Vogel.
Luis is HTC’s main Spanish instructor on the property and teaches both private and public courses in Spanish.
John D. Harris III
Firearms Instructor
John is employed with Homestead Training Center as an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer and an NRA Private Instructor and has multiple other NRA certifications.
He entered the security field after high school in 2003, where he started as an Armed/Unarmed Security Guard. He later became a Private investigation intern, worked with a Robbery Suppression Detail, was hired as a Driver Escort for high-end clients, and performed executive & asset protection work.
John obtained his NRA LE Handgun Instructor in 2014. Then, he received his NRA Basic Pistol, NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA Home Firearm Safety, NRA Basic Rifle, and NRA Basic Shotgun. In 2019, John obtained his Florida-K license and continued to RSO and instruct for HTC. John also officially got his NRA Chief Range Safety Officer certification in 2020.
John graduated from Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Academy in 2023 and is currently employed as a Safe School Officer.
John enjoys teaching new shooters to be proficient and confident in using all firearms and teaching more experienced shooters the principal techniques to become their best. John will also teach new HTC WOMENS-Only Courses this upcoming year, including Women’s Only Pistol I & Women’s Only Skill Drills.
He entered the security field after high school in 2003, where he started as an Armed/Unarmed Security Guard. He later became a Private investigation intern, worked with a Robbery Suppression Detail, was hired as a Driver Escort for high-end clients, and performed executive & asset protection work.
John obtained his NRA LE Handgun Instructor in 2014. Then, he received his NRA Basic Pistol, NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home, NRA Home Firearm Safety, NRA Basic Rifle, and NRA Basic Shotgun. In 2019, John obtained his Florida-K license and continued to RSO and instruct for HTC. John also officially got his NRA Chief Range Safety Officer certification in 2020.
John graduated from Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis, and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Academy in 2023 and is currently employed as a Safe School Officer.
John enjoys teaching new shooters to be proficient and confident in using all firearms and teaching more experienced shooters the principal techniques to become their best. John will also teach new HTC WOMENS-Only Courses this upcoming year, including Women’s Only Pistol I & Women’s Only Skill Drills.
Jeff Suero
Firearms Instructor
Jeff is employed with Homestead Training Center as an NRA Range Safety Officer, as well as being NRA Pistol Instructor Certified and an USPSA Certified RO. Jeff is classified as an A-Class in Carry Optics Division.
Jeff was born and raised in Miami and started shooting with firearms in 2018. With training in Martial Arts for over 17 years, Jeff has based his philosophy on the concepts and fundamentals of Martial Arts through teaching others and while training for his performance and competition pistol skill development.
While obtaining his degree in Physical Education and Sports Sciences at FIU, he was introduced to competition pistol shooting in 2019 and received mentorship from Elite Athlete’s Performance’s Ed Downs, Jesus Gallo, and Gil Gonzalez. He was quickly hooked on the sport. Jeff trained with top competitors, such as Sam Yu and JJ Racaza, and aims to hit GrandMaster in the near future.
Jeff is a living testament to what can be accomplished in a short period with elite-level training and dedication. Jeff is just as passionate and dedicated to teaching others as he is to honing his skills.
Jeff was born and raised in Miami and started shooting with firearms in 2018. With training in Martial Arts for over 17 years, Jeff has based his philosophy on the concepts and fundamentals of Martial Arts through teaching others and while training for his performance and competition pistol skill development.
While obtaining his degree in Physical Education and Sports Sciences at FIU, he was introduced to competition pistol shooting in 2019 and received mentorship from Elite Athlete’s Performance’s Ed Downs, Jesus Gallo, and Gil Gonzalez. He was quickly hooked on the sport. Jeff trained with top competitors, such as Sam Yu and JJ Racaza, and aims to hit GrandMaster in the near future.
Jeff is a living testament to what can be accomplished in a short period with elite-level training and dedication. Jeff is just as passionate and dedicated to teaching others as he is to honing his skills.
Chad Martin
Firearms Instructor
Chad has 23 years of law enforcement experience and training to include 20 years in SWAT from team member to commander. Chad is a certified law enforcement instructor in he following disciplines: precision rifle, carbine, pistol, defensive tactics levels 1 & 2, and team operations. Chad is also a certified GLOCK and AR-15 armorer. He was attached to various state and federal task forces including overt surveillance with the National Guard counter drug division, undercover drug operations, and fugitive apprehension. He has trained alongside multiple federal agencies and individuals within specialized units of the military to enhance his skillset and knowledge of the tactical environment.
Chad is looking forward to offering long range and tactical precision rifle courses as well as tactical courses (basic through advanced) for both carbine and pistol based on proven tactics and techniques. He aims to teach individuals how to properly use their equipment and build their foundational knowledge to become effective shooters.
Being prepared is a way of life, not a hobby.
Chad is looking forward to offering long range and tactical precision rifle courses as well as tactical courses (basic through advanced) for both carbine and pistol based on proven tactics and techniques. He aims to teach individuals how to properly use their equipment and build their foundational knowledge to become effective shooters.
Being prepared is a way of life, not a hobby.