Bio:

Retired US Army Command Sergeant Major Ted Lidie is the Founder and Chief Instructor at Northern Firearms Instruction. Founded in 2007, Northern Firearms Instruction is the largest firearms training organization in the State of California, teaching safe and responsible firearms use to over 3,000 Californians each year. Ted Spent 21 years in the US Army, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major in 2006. Ted was a leader of combat soldiers and has witnessed first-hand the debilitating psychological and physical long-term effects that combat service has on our veterans.

Ted is a Director at the Redding Gun Club, National Wild Turkey Federation Volunteer, and member of VFW post 1934. Ted is a multi-disciplined NRA Training Counselor, USCCA Training Counselor, Glock Armorer, Glock Certified Instructor Development Graduate, California Department of Justice Firearms Instructor, and California Hunter’s Education Instructor. When he’s not teaching safe and responsible firearms use, Ted enjoys playing roller hockey with his friends, hunting, and spending time with his lovely wife, Lisa Le Blanc Lidie.

Bio:

Seth Stout is the Student Services Director for Northern Firearms Instruction. Seth is committed to servicing student needs and is a Senior Instructor teaching in various counties. Seth originally joined the NFI team in 2019 and has trained with Chief Instructor Ted Lidie for the last 15 years. Seth is a credentialed NRA Rifle, Pistol, Shotgun, and CCW instructor, as well as a Chief Range Safety Officer. Seth is also a California Department of Justice Firearms Instructor Instructor. When not working as an NFI instructor, he is the Range Officer at the Redding Gun Club. Seth is married to his childhood sweetheart Rychelle, and together they enjoy spending time together in the outdoors.

Bio:

I was born in Australia. I have 17 grand and 3 great grandchildren. Joined US Navy in Feb. 1971. I have had my CCW permit since 1998. Been with NFI since 2012.

Account Executive for Delta Defense. (USCCA)

Board of Directors for Redding Gun Club and Weaverville Rod and Gun Club.

NRA Life Member and recruiter, CRPA Life Member.

Bio:

My Name is Chuck Fields, and my title is Senior Instructor/Director of Training, 6 th District for Northern Firearms Instruction. I have been instructing for NFI since 2017 and formally instructing civilians since 2009. I am originally from the east coast, being born in Michigan but growing up in Upstate NY. I grew up in NY splitting my free time between hunting, fishing, and weight training. I am former Military, having served 1 st in the US Marine Corps, assigned to a Marine Barracks followed by a reenlistment in the US Army, as a Helicopter pilot. Chasing a childhood dream, I left the military and when back to my hometown and there joined the local Police Dept. serving in varied positions throughout my career.

My current credentials include, CA DOJ Certified Instructor, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, and NRA Instructor Certifications in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, CCW, and Refuse To Be A Victim. I love to learn and love to teach. I am an avid hand gunner and my handgun of chose in the Colt 1911 Frame. My wife of 18 years and reside in the small community of Valley Springs, CA.

Bio:

Bryan Rheem is a CA DOJ and NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun and CCW Instructor and serves as a Senior Instructor with NFI. With NFI, Bryan teaches CCW but primarily focuses on the advanced skills beyond initial CCW, pistol, rifle and shotgun classes. He is passionate about helping students develop the knowledge and skills required to safely, effectively and efficiently put their self-defense firearms to use. Bryan helped develop the Step II curriculum (drawing a firearm from concealment) as well as the Step III curriculum which allows the students to take their foundational skills and apply them in real-world realistic situations. Bryan also teaches the AR15 Intro and Level 1 course and has developed a home defense shotgun course. He is constantly thinking about what skills students need to survive real-world life critical incidents, and create curriculum to meet those needs.

Outside of the 2A, Bryan is also passionate about business. He is a seasoned entrepreneur and business consultant with over 25 years of professional experience. After graduating from Duke University in 1997 with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he immediately joined the internet technology boom, working for a global Fortune 500 company. Since then, Bryan has worked in both the public and private sectors, starting several businesses and consulting to a wide variety of clients and industries, from large federal departments to small start up companies, even including a start-up federal department. His experience ranges from business development through project and operations management. Bryan’s passion is helping individuals and organizations maximize their potential based on their current staff and resources, and developing strategic plans to help achieve short and long term goals. His vision is to see organizations create a thriving culture as they reach great success.

Bryan is married with three kids, lives in Redding and loves the opportunity to do every outdoor related activity: hiking, biking, camping, snowboarding and waterfall hunting. His favorite pastime is hanging with family & friends, eating great food (esp. Korean) and talking about conspiracy theories.

Bio:

Emily has been shooting firearms for over 30 years. Emily has been teaching structured firearms safety courses and CCW courses since 2020. Emily Booth is an NRA Certified Instructor for Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, & CA CCW. Emily is also an approved CA DOJ instructor and a USCCA CCW Instructor. She is passionate about helping people learn how to safely and responsibly handle all firearms, and she takes pride in providing her students with the knowledge and skills they need to be confident and competent shooters. While Emily enjoys teaching co-ed classes, she is passionate about teaching fellow women to safely and confidently use their firearms for self-protection, as well as empowering fellow 2A advocates. Emily is a proud member of the USCCA and the Redding Gun Club.

Emily is patient and always willing to go the extra mile to help her students succeed. In her free time, Emily enjoys volunteering at her local church, camping with her family, crafting and sharing all things essential oil related.

Bio:

Stephen Kim is a seasoned firearms instructor with a passion for promoting responsible gun ownership and proficiency in the safe use of firearms. His journey into the world of firearms training began with a strong commitment to personal safety and a desire to help others achieve the same level of confidence and competence.

Stephen received training from some of the most renowned firearms training facilities such as Frontsight and Gun Sight. In addition, he also sought out top-tier instruction from competition shooters to develop his defensive shooting techniques and marksmanship. Some might consider him a “gun school junky” spending up to 2 weeks per year in training classes; while others would say he’s an advocate for continuing education. Most recently, he completed the 3 day - Red Dot and AIWB performance training class w/ Modern Samurai Project.

Moreover, Stephen brings 20 years of business acumen as a management consultant and trainer to Northern Firearms instruction and is instrumental with developing the curriculum and standards for NFI. Stephen is deeply committed to education and safety. He has a proven track record of working with individuals from various backgrounds and skill levels, helping them develop the necessary skills to safely and effectively use firearms for self-defense or sport.

Bio:

I shot my first gun about the age of 12 and I have been in love ever since. I grew up shooting guns in the mountains of Washington state. I was lucky enough to have someone teach me correctly early on. I began hunting shortly after that. I joined the military right after high school and that’s when my gun education really took off. I spent 15 years in the Military. While in the Military I was blessed with three children, all of which I taught to shoot. Over the years I have taught my kids friends, my friends and some of their wives and a whole litany of people to shoot. The Military had me shooting revolvers, semi auto’s, shotguns, 249’s, M-60’s, M-16, M4, LAW rockets, grenade launchers, mortar rounds, 90mm recoilless rifles…What fun. I was the guy you went to if you failed to qualify with one of your weapons.

While in the military, I never failed to qualify as an expert shooter. I was also lucky enough to go to a multi gun shooting contest and using the Berretta M9 (92F) I took first in the handgun portion of the contest. I spent about 10 years in Law Enforcement. While in Law Enforcement I was able to earn extra pay for maintaining my shooting skill at an expert level. I was even asked by a SWAT LT. if I would show the team some different techniques for shooting. After leaving both the Military and Law Enforcement, I still wanted to pass on my knowledge of shooting to more people. I took a class with NFI for my CCW and heard about a teaching class offered by NFI and took it. Lucky for me it was taught by the man who brought me into NFI where I am continuing my desire to teach about guns and gun safety to others. My hope is to nurture the tradition and desire of safe gun handling, marksmanship, and education.

Bio:

Paul Robins is a Senior NFI Instructor working in Placer and Sacramento Counties, and serving all adjacent Northern California counties. Paul was an instructor at Front Sight Firearms Training Institute in Nevada before joining the team at NFI. He is a Certified DOJ Firearms Instructor and a Certified NRA Pistol Instructor, CCW Instructor, and Range Safety Officer. Paul’s wife, Bridget, is also an NRA Range Safety Officer and often joins him for his classes. Their 44 year marriage has blessed them with wonderful daughters, sons-in-law, and five grandkids. When not on the range, Paul serves on the faculty of Jessup University in Rocklin as the Program Director for the Digital Communication, Art & Design Major.