Our Instructors
Military, law enforcement, private security detail, and even competitive shooting: Our instructors have seen and been through it all, and have the up-close-and-personal knowledge and experience to take your sniper and tactical skills to the next level.

Corey Clancy
Instructor
Corey has been an instructor for GPS Defense Sniper School for seven years and teaches marksmanship, ballistics, target detection, range estimation, fieldcraft and a variety of other sniper skills that are necessary to be effective in a combat environment. During his tenure with GPS, he has trained and certified scores of military, law enforcement, and private protection snipers.
Corey’s experience, education and training include military, combat, and private contracting. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2006 as an infantryman and Scout Sniper. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Sniper School and was an assistant Sniper Team Leader and then a Sniper Team Leader during his final four years of service. During his five years of service in Afghanistan, Iraq, and in and around the Persian Gulf, he served in combat operations as a sniper, performing numerous sniper operations. As a private contractor, Corey spent an additional six years in Afghanistan and Iraq, where he performed the role of PSS/DDM to help protect U.S. Embassies and U.S. Dignitaries for the Department of State in high threat environments.
- U.S. Marine Corps Sniper School
- Forward Observers Course
- Designated Defensive Marksman (DDM) Course
- Worldwide Personal Protection Services (WPPS) Course
- Combat Lifesaver Course
- Improvised Explosives Device Course
- Worldwide Protective Services (WPS) Transition Course
- U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper Basic Course
- Forward Observers Course
- Certified as a PSS/DMM under the Department of State standards for the Worldwide Personal Protection Services.
- Corey’s other skills and experience include demolition, first aid, communications, aerial and indirect fire support, motorcade operations, evasive driving, close protection, fugitive apprehension, drug interdiction, and CQB training.

Chad Marr
Instructor
Chad has been an instructor for GPS Defense Sniper School for four years and teaches marksmanship, ballistics, target detection, range estimation, fieldcraft and a variety of other sniper skills that are necessary to be effective in a combat environment. During his tenure with GPS, he has trained and certified scores of military, law enforcement, and private protection snipers. Chad is also an AZPOST certified rifle and firearms instructor for a local law enforcement agency.
Chad’s experience, education and training include military, combat, law enforcement, and private contracting. He served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2010 as an infantryman and Scout Sniper. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Sniper School and was the Company Sniper Team Leader during his final three years of service in the Army. During his two-and-a-half years of service in Iraq, he served in combat operations as a sniper, performing numerous sniper, clearing and over-watch operations. As a private contractor from 2010 to 2013, Chad spent an additional three years in Iraq, where he performed the role of PSS/DDM to help protect many dignitaries for the Department of State in a high threat environment.
- U.S. Army Sniper School
- Squad Designated Marksman Training
- Designated Defensive Marksman (DDM) Course
- Worldwide Personal Protection Services (WPPS) Course
- Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC)
- Master Breacher Course
- Warrior Leaders Course
- Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Academy
- U.S. Army Sniper
- AZ POST Sniper
- Certified as a PSS/DMM under the Department of State standards for the Worldwide Personal Protection Services
- AZ POST Firearms Instructor
- AZ POST Rifle Instructor

Skip Clarkin
Instructor
Skip served six years with the U.S. Marine Corps, 16 years as a Military Police Officer with the Arizona Army National Guard, four years as a Yavapai County Patrol Deputy, four years on the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, and 26 years as a City of Chandler Police Officer and Detective. He retired in 2016 as an AZPOST certified firearms instructor, intelligence detective, terrorist liaison officer, Special Assignment Unit (SAU, a.k.a. SWAT) member, SAU sniper rappel master, High Angle Rescue Team member, and sniper and hostage negotiator. Skip is specialized in terrorism-related cases, threat assessments and emergency planning.
Skip has an extensive background in precision rifle operations and instruction. He competed in the sniper division of the Arizona Army National Guard Shooting Team in 1995 and 1996, winning state both years and placing second in the Winston P. Wilson National Matches in 1996. He was a member of Chandler SAU for 21 years and a member of the Sniper Squad for 16 years. Skip’s competitive shooting background includes several Police Olympics and he is an avid hunter.
Skip’s varied experience includes dignitary protection operations in direct support of dozens of field intelligence teams for national security events, including U.S. Secret Service liaison duties during presidential functions and visits to Phoenix. Skip is a member of the International Association of Security Professionals.

Juan Ospina
Instructor
Juan’s experience, education and training include 20 years of military service, including service in combat. Juan served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1994-2014 as a Scout Sniper and had multiple combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terror. He is a graduate of the U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper School and served as Team member, Team leader, Chief Scout Sniper and Sniper Platoon Sergeant. Juan was a primary military instructor for all sniper field craft to include stalking, observation exercise, field sketches, and known/unknown distance using the M40A3/5, M107, M16A4, M4, and M9 platforms. He conducted, tested, evaluated and supervised numerous bilateral training events throughout the Middle East and Southeast Asia using the following patrolling techniques: cover/concealment, raids, Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain (MOUT), sniper engagements, wedge, column, and mounted/dismounted patrols. Juan was an instructor for all conventional and unconventional sniper patrolling techniques, camouflage, Close Quarter Breach (CQB), sniper hide construction, initiating and reacting to contact.
- U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper Basic Course
- Urban Sniper Course (VBSS/GOPLAT)
- Urban Reconnaissance and Surveillance Course
- Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape Course “C” (S.E.R.E)
- Advanced S.E.R.E
- Foreign Vehicle Recovery Course
- Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol Course (International)
- Air / Naval Gunfire Liaison (ANGLCO) Basic Course
- Monadnock Defensive Tactics System
- Combat Lifesavers Course
- Emergency Vehicle Operators Course
- Marine Corps Security Forces School
- DOD Defense Support of Civil Authorities Course Phase 1 & 2
- Anti-terrorism Officer Level II Course
- National Incident Management System Course
- National Response Framework Course