Dick Wheeler — President, Founding Partner and Senior Instructor
Dick is the founder of Mid Ohio Firearms Training Academy and MOFTA’s “Top Gun.” He served as a law enforcement officer for a total of ten years with the Westerville and Pataskala, Ohio Police Departments. Dick is a very well known and respected firearms instructor in central Ohio. In addition to MOFTA, he serves as an instructor for the internationally known and respected Tactical Defense Institute (TDI). He has trained under some of the nations best firearms and tactics instructors, including John Benner (founder of TDI) David Bowie (Bowie Tactical Concepts, TDI), several other top instructors at TDI, John Farnam (Defense Training International), Massad Ayoob (Lethal Force Institute-1) and in Dick’s words “had the privilege to spend a very humbling and long 2-days” training under Robbie Latham, recognized as one of the top handgun shooters in the world. Dick’s knowledge of combat and defensive handgun tactics is superior. He is trained and skilled in martial arts, knife defense, close quarters and force on force tactics, and is also trained in field trauma medicine. Dick is an NRA certified instructor and certified Range Safety Officer, and is also certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission as a Unit Firearms Instructor (revolver, semi-auto pistol & shotgun) Dick is a member of The International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and a member of The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. Dick is also an electrical engineer and the President and COO of a Technical Consulting Company.

Dick Caster — Vice President, Partner, Senior Instructor, MOFTA Private Security School Commander

Dick served for five years as a reserve deputy sheriff in Ohio achieving the rank of sergeant. Dick has been with MOFTA almost from its beginning. He also served as the Executive Director for the National Association of School Resource Officers (armed police officers in our schools). Dick assisted in writing the Active Shooter Training course provided to school resource officers and currently assists with implementing and conducting Active Shooter Training across the nation. He still serves as an instructor for the National Association of School Resource Officers teaching basic and advanced courses.
Dick’s professional association memberships include:

• The National Tactical Officers Association
• The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association
• The International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors
• Lifetime Member-Operator, International Anti-Terror Association

Dick holds several NRA instructor certifications and has received advanced firearms training through the Tactical Defense Institute. Dick is a NRA certified Range Safety Officer and is certified by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) as Unit Firearms Instructor (revolver, semi-auto pistol & shotgun) and is a Special Subject Instructor for the OPOTC Ohio Basic Police Academy. He is certified by the State of Utah’s Bureau of Criminal Identification as a Concealed Firearms Instructor.
Dick holds Department of Homeland Security instructor certification in two areas: Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings and Response to and Prevention of Suicide Bombings. He also holds certification in Understanding and Planning for School Bomb Incidents also from the Department of Homeland Security.
Dick has been published in “Law and Order” magazine.  He was selected to speak at the International Association of Chiefs of  Police and serves as a guest instructor for the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors. He has a Doctor of Education degree and a Master of Science degree, with a concentration in criminal justice, from the University of Akron.

Fred Schnitzspahn – Vice President, Partner, Senior Instructor and NRA Training Counselor, Director of Marketing and NRA Training

Fred joined the MOFTA instructor staff in the fall of 2009 after learning about MOFTA on the MOFTA website. Fred is a retired U.S. Army Colonel with 27 years of military service. He is also retired from Ohio State Government service. Fred holds expert ratings in pistol and rifle from the Army and was awarded the highest shooting medal from the German Army while on duty there. Fred started shooting at age 10 and has been shooting ever since (we will not tell you how many years that has been). He has competed in Civil War Musket matches and the M1 Garand Rifle event at the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s (CMP) National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. He has a Concealed Handgun License, has completed MOFTA’s Defensive Handgun Level 1 & Level 2 Course and Tactical Rifle for Personal Defense Course. Additionally, Fred has completed advanced handgun training at the Tactical Defense Institute. Fred is an NRA Range Safety Officer and is also an Ohio Peace Officers Training Commission approved Firearms Safety Officer. He has been appointed by the NRA as a Training Counselor enabling him to conduct NRA Instructor Certification courses in Pistol, Rifle, Personal Protection in the Home, and Home Firearm Safety. Fred also teaches NRA First Steps and Basic Pistol, First Steps and Basic Rifle, and Personal Protection in the Home for MOFTA. He is an avid long distance bicyclist riding in excess of 2,300 miles during summer months.

Gary Allen — Instructor
Gary received his initial training as a student of MOFTA. After finishing his training and receiving his Concealed Handgun License, Gary successfully completed MOFTA’s Defensive Handgun Level-II class. Gary began his service with MOFTA as an Assistant Instructor assisting in the classroom and on the shooting range. Gary then completed his training and became an NRA certified instructor and joined MOFTA’s Instructor Staff. He is especially skilled working with the handgun from the holster (draw stroke), working from concealment, clearing garments and getting on target quickly. He has received advanced handgun training from the Tactical Defense Institute. Gary is also trained in emergency field trauma medicine. Gary serves as Deputy Bailiff for the Pataskala Municipal Court.

Barry McRobie — Instructor
Barry is also a graduate of MOFTA classes. After completing MOFTA’s Defensive Handgun Level-II class, Barry volunteered his time assisting in the MOFTA classroom and on the range until completing his training and becoming a NRA certified instructor, when he joined MOFTA’s instructor staff. Barry’s strength as an instructor is his calm and patient demeanor working one on one with a student. Whether a student needs help in the classroom or the range with sight alignment, stance, etc., Barry is a key instructor in giving this one on one attention that makes MOFTA one of the premier shooting schools in Ohio. Barry has completed all of MOFTA’s advanced firearms classes, including HG-1 and 2 and Tac-Rifle. Barry has also received advanced training at the Tactical Defense Institute in handgun, partner tactics, tactical rifle, impact weapons and field trauma medicine. Barry is trained in martial arts in Tai-Chi / Chi Gung. Barry holds CCLs in Ohio, Utah, Florida and Nevada.

Linnea Birchmeier – Assistant Instructor

Linnea began peer coaching as a junior rifle competitor in 1999. She shot for The Ohio State University Varsity Rifle Team from 2002 to 2006, where she served as a co-captain for two seasons. Linnea was also named MVP her senior year. Credentials include: NRA certified Range Safety Officer and NRA certified instructor in pistol, rifle and shotgun. She completed MOFTA’s CHL class in March 2010 and Defensive Handgun I in April 2010. In addition to serving as an Assistant Instructor for MOFTA, Linnea also volunteers as a youth coach with a Boy Scouts Venture Crew focused on the shooting sports. Her strengths as a shooter are the basics common to all good shooting: sight alignment and trigger control . As an instructor, Linnea excels at one-on-one coaching for accuracy. Linnea also teaches the NRA Basic Rifle and Basic Pistol programs for MOFTA.

Roger Wagner — Assistant Instructor
Roger has been involved in the shooting world in one manner or another for a few decades (we won’t age Roger and tell you how many). Roger successfully completed MOFTA’s Basic Concealed Handgun Class and MOFTA’s Defensive Handgun Level-1 and Level-2 classes. Roger is a NRA certified instructor in rifle and pistol. Roger’s experience and professionalism carries over in his work with MOFTA’s students both in the classroom and on the range. Outside of MOFTA Roger is a Certified Public Accountant. Roger owns and runs an accounting, bookkeeping and tax preparation & planning company.

Bill Posey – Adjunct Instructor

Bill Posey joined MOFTA in 2011 as an Adjunct Instructor. Bill specifically presents the legal portions of the NRA Personal Protection in the Home class presented by MOFTA. Bill also helps out with other NRA classes and Concealed Handgun License classes when his schedule allows. Bill began his shooting education with his first class at the Tactical Defense Institute (TDI) in Nov. 2007 and began teaching at TDI in spring, 2009. He is an NRA certified instructor in Pistol, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection in the Home. He has further taken instruction with Ken Hackathorn and Bill Rogers in tactical and speed shooting. Bill Posey is a practicing trial attorney with the firm of Keating Muething & Klekamp, PLL since 1979. Bill’s law practice involves all aspects of litigation with particular emphasis in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury, product liability, and wrongful death litigation: insurance coverage: complex and multi-district litigation, and aviation. He has served as lead trial counsel on behalf of clients in more than thirty-five jurisdictions. He lectures on topics relating to accident reconstruction, use of experts, trial skills and strategies, damages, insurance coverage and bad faith issues. Bill has been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers, as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Ohio, as one of the Top 50 Lawyers in Cincinnati, and by The Best Lawyers in America.

Dean Oligee — Instructor-in-Training

Dean Oligee is currently an Instructor-In-Training at MOFTA. Dean is a graduate of several MOFTA classes. After completing his first MOFTA class for his NRA pistol instructor certification he returned to MOFTA for the NRA Personal Protection in the Home course and then MOFTA’s Defensive Handgun Levels I & II. After his successful completion of these classes Dean was asked to join the MOFTA Instructor Staff in the spring of 2011. Dean has continued his training by attending advanced Defensive Handgun classes at the Tactical Defense Institute. Dean also has NRA instructor certifications in reloading metallic cartridges and shotgun shells, and is a NRA certified Range Safety Officer.  Dean holds an Ohio CHL and a Florida CWL. Dean enjoys working with new and experienced shooters alike, believing that all shooters should have a good foundation from which to advance their personal training and goals. He is a lifelong shooter having hunted deer in Ohio with shotgun and revolver, and elk in Colorado with muzzle loaders. He has competed in Cowboy Action Shooting for the last 10 years having won one regional class championship along the way. Dean enjoys reloading for his competition and training shooting. Dean is an avid motorcycle rider. He competed in road-racing for over 10 years, winning two regional championships during his racing career. Dean continues to ride taking many long distance rides on his motorcycle every year. Dean is retired from a sales position after 39 years working for Ecolab, a chemical and services company.