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ADVANCING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF PROFESSIONAL FIREARMS INSTRUCTORS

Executive Director - Jason Wuestenberg

E-Mail: director@nlefia.org

Jason Wuestenberg began his career of service in the U.S. Army in 1990.  Jason served in a Light Infantry and Scout (reconnaissance) unit in the 6th Infantry Division (Alaska).  Jason was Jump and Air Assault qualified and a graduate of the Primary Leadership Development Course (PLDC). Jason was honorably discharged in 1994.

In 1994, Jason joined the Phoenix Police Department in Arizona.  During his law enforcement career, Jason became a certified firearms instructor in 1997 and served as an adjunct instructor for recruits and in-service training. In 2000, Jason was selected to the Firearms Training Unit as a full-time firearms instructor...the youngest full-time firearms instructor in the history of the agency at that time.  He served as a firearms instructor from 2000-2005 training both recruits and in-service personnel.  Jason provided training in handgun, shotgun, and rifle.  Jason also started a shoot house training program for patrol officers and developed the department's Shoot House Instructor Certification Course.

Jason then served as a full-time tactics instructor from 2005-2007.  Jason instructed in the areas of defensive tactics, impact weapons, Taser, and patrol tactics where the primary method of training was force-on-force.  Jason helped develop, and was a lead instructor for, the department's Active Shooter Intervention program and Crisis Entry for Patrol program.

In 2008, Jason was promoted to Sergeant and returned to patrol duties for three years.  During that time he continued to train and mentor his officers, ensuring they received continuing firearms and tactical training on a regular basis beyond what the agency routinely provided.

In 2011, Jason was again selected to return to the Firearms Training Unit as the Sergeant for the Rifle Training Squad to manage the agency's growing patrol rifle program which consists of 300+ rifle operators and four instructors.  Jason served on the agency's Firearms Committee and on the Tactical Review Committee which conducted an analysis of the tactics that were applied in an officer-involved shooting. And, Jason served as a training and policy advisor for the agency's Use of Force Board which determines if an officer-involved shooting was in or out of policy. Jason held those positions for six years until he honorably retired in 2017 after 22 years of service.

Jason was responsible for many advancements in his agency's firearms and tactics training programs during his career.  Jason also started the Arizona Law Enforcement Rifle Instructor Symposium in 2012.  This annual 3-day training event was free and brought together the lead rifle instructors from agencies across Arizona to share information such as training philosophies & methodologies, drills, recommended equipment, policies, etc. to help improve agency rifle programs. Jason coordinated and ran the annual training symposium for five years until he retired.

Jason was a guest instructor several times at the Annual Training Conference for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI).  He also served on the IALEFI Board of Directors for nearly three years.

Jason has conducted training at the local, national, and international level through his private training company since 1998. Jason has trained instructors, law enforcement personnel (local, state, and federal), military personnel, security personnel, and law-abiding citizens in the areas of firearms, tactics, combatives, use of force, and more. Jason still provides consulting and training when requested.

Jason is a certified firearms instructor in all weapon disciplines (revolver, pistol, shotgun, carbine / rifle, select-fire, and precision rifle).  He is a certified Shoot House Instructor as well as a certified Force-on-Force (FoF) / Reality Based Training (RBT) Instructor and has conducted extensive shoot house and FoF training with his department and his private training company. Jason is a graduate of the Force Science Institute Analyst Certification Course and was a firearms Subject Matter Expert (SME) for Arizona Peace Officer Standards & Training (AZ POST) qualified to train and certify officers as firearms instructors.

Jason has obtained 20+ law enforcement instructor certifications over his career, and has received an additional 2,500+ hours of training above and beyond what his agency provided in the areas of firearms, tactics, training development, and leadership. Jason still continues to attend training post-retirement.  Jason has also obtained an Associates degree in Law Enforcement Technologies, a Bachelors degree in Career and Technical Education, and a Masters degree in Leadership.

Jason has always pushed for advancement and innovation in firearms and tactical training both on his department and with his private company. Jason now brings that passion to a national association for professional firearms instructors.

 

Phone: 800-930-2953

Email: office@nlefia.org

NLEFIA

6635 W. Happy Valley Road

Suite A104-108

Glendale, AZ 85310

Hours of Operation: (AZ time)

Monday - Friday | 9am - 3pm

Closed: Weekends & Holidays


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