Cadre
Brian Searcy - Sergeant Major, USA (Ret) - Instructor
Prior to taking this position, Brian served as a civilian consultant to the Pentagon’s Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Task Force. He worked in Iraq and the United States training Soldiers and Marines how to predict, prevent, detect, and mitigate the IED threat to personnel and facilities.
Brian is a 23 year Army Special Operations veteran who culminated 16 years with Delta Force (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta) as the unit’s Operations Sergeant Major. His leadership experience ranges from serving as a military advisor in Central and South America to serving as the Command Sergeant Major (senior enlisted advisor) for a 1700 person Special Operations Task Force in Iraq. A decorated combat leader, his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star.
Brian has briefed President Bush and members of the NSC on capabilities and limitations of special operations forces. He has lead protection details for high ranking government and military officials in high threat and combat environments. As an instructor in Delta, Brian wrote and taught classes in assault planning, VIP protection, rifle and pistol marksmanship, explosive and mechanical breaching, close quarters battle, vehicle assaults and hand to hand combat. He served as the program manager and primary instructor for the Unit’s shooting and hand to hand programs.
Brian has extensive sniper experience, both as an operational sniper and a trainer. He is a graduate of the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC) and has real world experience in planning, coordinating, integrating and leading tactical sniper operations.
A competitive shooter for over 20 years, Brian has competed at the top levels of competition in both precision and action shooting. Brian is a U.S. Army Distinguished Pistol Shot and has been awarded the President’s Hundred Tab. His other marksmanship accolades include: Overall Winner- 2005 Joint Special Operations Command Small Arms Championships and the 2003 North Carolina Indoor Conventional Pistol Champion. In addition to receiving a bachelor's degree in government from Campbell University, Brian has earned a master’s degree in public administration from Central Michigan University. Additionally he has completed an executive leadership program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
J.D. Potynsky, USA-Instructor
Prior to joining TSI, J.D. served as the senior weapons sergeant on a Specials Forces A-Team for 3rd Special Forces Group. J.D.'s combat experience includes multiple combat deployments in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan. A decorated combat veteran his awards include the Bronze Star and two Army Commendation awards (1 for Valor).
J.D. has advised and led both unilateral and joint force assaults, combat patrols, and reconnaissance missions. He has trained and led the Iraqi Special Forces and Afghan Commandos in combat. He has extensive experience training U.S. and indigenous forces in small unit tactics, combat skills, and foreign and domestic weapon systems.
As an instructor J.D. has taught classes in advanced MOUT, Close Quarters Battle, shotgun and mechanical breeching, foreign weapons, combatives and edged weapons, convoy react to contact, and surgical pistol and rifle marksmanship. He has trained protection details for high ranking foreign government officials in high threat and combat environments. J.D. has experience as a competitive shooter in 3-gun, IPSC, USPSA, and IDPA.
Kyle Defoor, USA-Instructor
Before coming to TigerSwan, Kyle was head of the Firearms and Tactics Training Division at the US Training Center. Kyle managed a staff of 20 instructors and personally instructed over 5000 students in marksmanship and weapons tactics. He was instrumental in the design and construction in many of the ranges at the US Training Center. Kyle developed and wrote numerous curriculums for many of their military clients.
Kyle is an 8 year Navy Special Operations veteran who culminated 3 years with Naval Special Warfare Development Group as a special operator serving as a sniper and an assaulter. Kyle has extensive sniper experience, both as an operational sniper and trainer. He is a graduate of Naval Special Warfare Scout/Sniper School. Kyle has 4 combat deployments and was awarded the Bronze Star w/Valor for his actions in Operation Anaconda.
Kyle is co-host on the Sportsman Channel's "Tactical Arms", and "Tactical Impact". He is a master Class IDPA (stock service pistol) a graduate of the Jerry Barnhart Advanced Pistol (High Shooter), John Shaw Advanced Pistol (High Shooter), and has shot expert on every military and federal government carbine and pistol qualification
Tony Copper, Command Sergeant Major, USA (Ret) – Instructor
Tony is a 26 year Army Special Operations veteran who culminated 19 years with Delta Force (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta) as the unit's Selection and Training Sergeant Major. His leadership experiences range from leading small executive protection teams to serving as the Command Sergeant Major for a Delta Sabre Squadron. He has served in hostile fire/combat zones in Central America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. His combat experience includes Operations Urgent Fury (Grenada), Just Cause (Panama), Unosom II (Somalia), Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Iraqi Freedom (OIF). A decorated combat leader, his military awards include the Silver Star and Legion of Merit.
Tony has lead protection details for high ranking government and military officials in high threat and combat environments. As an instructor in Delta (for new Delta Operators), Tony wrote and taught classes in assault planning, VIP protection, rifle and pistol marksmanship, mechanical and shotgun breaching, advanced MOUT and close quarters battle, Close Quarters Battle using Night Vision Goggles and artificial illumination, vehicle assaults (overt and low visibility), reacting to contact in vehicles, and surgical marksmanship and target discrimination. He served as the program manager and primary instructor for Delta's shooting and hand to hand programs.
A competitive shooter for over 14 years, Tony has competed at the top levels in both military and civilian competition and was a member of Delta's 1st Place team in the International Counter Terrorism Olympics. His other marksmanship accolades include: Georgia State USPSA Championship (unclassified division), and placed 3rd in the North Carolina State Championship (C Class division). In addition to receiving a bachelor's degree from Campbell University, Tony is a graduate of the Army Sergeants Major Academy.
Leon Bracy, Sergeant Major, USA (Ret) - Instructor
Prior to taking this position, Leon served as Security Specialist/Team Leader for a PSD in Baghdad & Northern Iraq and as a marksmanship/tactics instructor for the Air Marshall training program. Leon retired as a Sergeant Major in the United States Army’s 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (Delta Force). He served 22 years in the Army Special Operations Command culminating with 15 years in Delta Force as a Sergeant Major serving as an Operator, Team Sergeant, Master Breacher and Training & Evaluation Sergeant Major. A decorated combat veteran his awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit and two Bronze Stars (1 for valor), Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Bronze Pistol EIC Badge.
Leon has extensive international security experience. He assisted in the security assessment and upgrades planning for US embassies in Africa, Central & South America. He has lead protection details for high ranking government and military officials in high threat and combat environments. His former principals include a US Ambassador, COMSOCOM in Southwest Asia, and Corporate Executives in high risk environments.
Leon has extensive experience as a trainer in basic and advanced marksmanship, close quarters battle, manual and explosive breaching, rural and urban reconnaissance, and VIP protection in high threat environments.
Leon has extensive sniper experience, both as an operational sniper and a trainer. He is a graduate of the USMC scout sniper course and has real world experience in planning, coordinating, integrating and leading tactical sniper operations.
