Our Instructors

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.

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.