The Instructors

Who We Are

Founded & Managed by SGT Daniel "Zeke" Mathena

[ NRA Certified Training Counselor ]

Certifications include the Connecticut Police Academy as; Police Firearms Instructor (since 1984), Shooting Decision Making, Less-lethal Munitions, SWAT Tactics (building/room clearing/searching, crowd control) additional certifications in the following:

Smith & Wesson Academy, Springfield, Massachusetts – Armorer’s School
Colt Firearms, West Hartford, Connecticut – Armorer’s School
Beretta Firearms, Accokeek, Maryland – Armorer’s School
Glock Firearms, Smyrna, Georgia – Armorer’s School
Advanced Tactical Training in Hostage Rescue and Drug Raid Operations
Certified State of Connecticut “Blue Card” Instructor for Armed Security Officers
Certified State of Connecticut “Gold Card” Instructor for Bail Enforcement Agents
Interstate Police Officers’ Association
Certified Patrol K-9 Handler
Certified Police Weapons Armorer
Certified Police PR-24 Baton Instructor
Certified Police Counter-Sniper
Certified Scenario-Based Training & Simunitions Instructor
Certified Less-Lethal Munitions Instructor (12ga. & 37mm delivery systems)
Certified Instructor in Center-Axis-Relock (C.A.R.) tactical pistol
FAA Licensed Helicopter Pilot
Airborne Law Enforcement Association
NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
NRA Training Counselor

Steve Weisher

[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer ]

Twenty-eight years of public safety experience.
Former Police Chief
Graduate, FBI National Academy
Graduate, New England Institute of Law Enforcement Management
Executive Command, Regional Emergency Services Team
Critical Incident Management Certification
Certified Police Academy Instructor:
- Criminal Investigation and Reporting
- Crime Scene Management
- Public Safety Ethics
Member, International Association of Chiefs of Police
Member, FBI National Academy Associates
Certified NRA Range Safety Officer
Certified NRA Pistol Instructor

Steve Chastain

[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer ]

Captain Steve Chastain is a retired Indiana State Police Trooper with over 26 years in law enforcement.

Steve served as a Road Trooper, Criminal Investigator, Sergeant, First Sergeant and eventually Captain, retiring as Commander over the South Operations for the ISP.

Steve served as a member of the ISP Emergency Response Team (SWAT) member as a Sniper and Entry Team Leader, as well as a Firearms Instructor for the ERT, Indiana State Police Academy, Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and Field District Instructor.

He has Law Enforcement Training certifications in:

Tactical Weapons and Maintenance including Sniper certification.
Emergency Response Tactics and Critical Incident Management.
Homicide Investigation, Arson and Hazardous Materials.
Accident Reconstruction and Traffic Enforcement.
Bachelor Of Science degree in Criminology.
Certified NRA Range Safety Officer.
Certified NRA Rifle Instructor.
Certified NRA Pistol Instructor.

Jeff Mathena

[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer ]

Jeff Mathena is a former United States Marine. He served as an infantryman (0311) in Company C, 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, he carried the M-60 machine gun (7.62mm) and later the M249 SAW light machine gun (5.56mm). Maintained Expert Rifle qualification in marksmanship with the M16A2 (5.56mm).

Marine Corps Recruit Depot – Parris Island, SC
Marine Combat Training – Camp Geiger, NC
Advanced School of Infantry – Camp Lejeune, NC
Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) – Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC), Twentynine Palms, CA
The Marine Corps' most advanced live-fire unit-level combined arms training program for ground and air fire support with maneuvers at the tactical level.
NRA Certified Chief Range Safety Officer
NRA Certified Pistol Instructor
NRA Certified Rifle Instructor

Bill Ullrich

[ NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, NRA Certified Rifle Instructor, NRA Certified Range Safety Officer, Hunter Safety Instructor, NR Paramedic ]

Bill is a former EMS Lieutenant with the Baltimore County Fire Department where he served as a Paramedic, EMS District Officer, and an Instructor in the Fire Rescue Academy. He has over 40 years of fire and EMS experience which includes the development and training of the active threat response program for the Baltimore County Police and Fire Department. He enjoys sharing his knowledge and passion about firearms safety, self-defense, and lifesaving skills that everyone should know.

Certified NRA Range Safety Officer
Certified NRA Rifle Instructor
Certified NRA Pistol Instructor
Certified Hunters Safety Instructor
Certified NR Paramedic
Certified Stop the Bleed Instructor
Certified CPR Instructor

At Tactical Defense Training Center we offer comprehensive training programs designed to give you the confidence and tools to overcome life-threatening encounters. Our position is that planning and being prepared cannot be overstated.

Just being armed alone is not the answer. Knowing what to do, when to do it and how to do it is a start to the answer. Pulling a gun in an incident of extreme stress, surprise and chaos can lead to unintentional tragic consequences. We teach techniques that prepare & train shooters in stressful situations.

We have a deep commitment to helping and seeing that any training in this area is well thought-out and done with Safety as a priority.

TDTC has been successful in providing this training. Proper training involves more than just standing at the firing line and shooting at targets. At TDTC you can count on getting realistic training to help you prepare for that nightmare.