Helo-Gunners: Instructor Bios
Lt. Jeff Hall
Hall is a retired lieutenant from the Alaska State Troopers, with over 25 years of combined military and law enforcement experience. While a Trooper, Hall spent nineteen years on the pistol team and twelve on the S.W.A.T. team.
Hall is one of the only US police officers to win an air-to-ground firefight against an armed criminal. This occurred on 5/19/84 at Manley Hot Springs, Alaska; it was recently featured on the History Channel's Sniper: Deadliest Missions.
Hall is a Handgun Combat Master and holds black belts in five arts, ranging from 3rd through 10th Dan. In 2012 he was promoted to Godan (5th Dan) in Shudokan. He is an NRA certified instructor in handgun, shotgun, submachine gun, carbine, and precision rifle; an NRA Adjunct Staff Instructor; and certified Police Master Instructor. He is currently training for the Four Weapon Combat Master test, and to become the second ever to pass the Handgun Combat Master test with a revolver.
In 2005 Jeff was inducted into the U.S. Martial Arts Hall of Fame, and in 2007 into the Universal Martial Arts Hall of Fame. He was named Grandmaster, promoted to 10th dan, and named "soke", or founder, of the art of Hojutsu-Ryu: the Art of Shooting.
Sgt. Chris Hays
After proudly serving his country for seven and a half years as a United States Marine Scout Sniper, Hays began his law enforcement career with the Orange County Sheriff's Department in 1994. He has served on their SWAT Team since 1997, and has worked in all levels of tactical operations with primary assignments as Team Leader, Sniper Element Leader and Joint Hazard Assessment Team Element Leader.
Hays co-wrote and developed the lesson plan and course of instruction for the Multi Assault Counter-Terrorism Action Capabilities (MACTAC) course with LAPD SWAT Officer Joe Witty. He has conducted tactical incident reviews for the Sheriff's Department, as well as the "Virginia Tech" and "Ft. Hood" massacres. Hays was a member of the California Attorney General's Commission on SWAT Blue Ribbon Committee developing SWAT standards for WMD Operations and Aerial Platform Operations and has worked on several California Commission of Peace Officer Standards and Training committees.
Hays represents the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA) on the National Fire Protection Association HazMat committee and the Inter Agency Board Personal Protection and Operational Equipment committee, and is also a lead instructor for the NTOA WMD Tactical Operations and MACTAC Courses. He has a Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice.