instructor bios
Gary Lind - President and Chief Instructor - Illinois Public Safety Training Group
Gary is a certified Firearms Instructor, Range Safety Officer and pistol armorer for Springfield Firearms.
Gary brings over 16 years of firearms handling experience to the table. Gary is a certified Illinois Concealed Carry Instructor, Certified Range Safety Officer and Certified NRA Firearms Instructor.
Gary is a graduate of Front Sight Firearms Training Institute Las Vegas and Final Option Minnesota for Defensive Handgun.
Gary is an active shooter IDPA and USPSA and maintains memberships with ILEETA, NRA, ITOA, ISRA and NACFI.
Daniel Lempa - President Emeritus 2013 - 2018 2018 Security and Training Consultant
Dan brings to the table 25 years of law enforcement and public safety experience.
Dan is a certified law enforcement firearms instructor, Illinois concealed carry instructor Range Safety Officer and is a Immediate Action Rapid Deployment Instructor.
Dan specializes in Firearms training, less lethal munitions such as chemical agents and TASER as well as defensive tactics training. Dan currently holds instructor certifications for each of these disciplines.
Dan served on a Emergency Response Team and was an active member of the teams training division overseeing firearms and less lethal munitions.
Dan continues to teach Rapid Deployment and workplace violence awareness & prevention classes to several agencies.
Recognizing the importance of post incident care, Dan has completed training with NAEMT in Bleeding Control for the injured and Medical Tactics for patrol
Dan is an armorer for Glock and Springfield Products and can assist with repairs and some modifications.
Dan is an active member of ILEETA, ITOA, NRA and IALEFI
Deb Lind - Office Manager, Certified Firearms Instructor, and Range Safety Officer
Deb oversees the day to day operations of Illinois Public Safety Training Group along with assisting our instructors at the range and in class.
Deb is an active member of the NRA and Well Armed Women.
Mike Conroy - Armorer, Instructor and Range Safety Officer
Mike is qualified as an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, authorizing him to certify other individuals as being NRA Range Safety Officers. Mike is also a Certified NRA Instructor for several shooting and self-protection disciplines: Rifle, Pistol & Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside The Home, Personal Protection Outside The Home, Refuse To Be A Victim & NRA Certified Basic Metallic Reloading Instructor. He is also a Certified NRA Law Enforcement Pistol & Shotgun Instructor.
Mike is a Certified Glock, Smith & Wesson, Springfield and AR-15 armorer. He is also a graduate of the nationally renowned Massad Ayoob’s MAG-40 class.
Mike was a parachute rigger and is U.S. Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne. He has been hunting, shooting trap & skeet, and rifle shooting since he was in grade school. Mike formally competes in NRA Mid-Range & NRA Long Range F-Class Matches regionally. He is a life member of the NRA, ISRA & GOA, and holds active membership with ILEETA.
Joe Pavlik - Instructor and Range Safety Officer
Joe is certified Firearms Instructor, Range Safety Officer and pistol armorer for Springfield Firearms.
Joe brings over 32 years of experience on the streets as a Chicago Fire Fighter/Paramedic.
Joe is a certified Illinois Concealed Carry Instructor, Certified Range Safety Officer and Certified NRA Firearms Instructor.
Joe enjoys hunting and sport shooting.
Joe Pavlik Jr - Instructor and Range Safety Officer
Joe is a certified firearms instructor and current law enforcement officer.
Joe has 8 years of experience in the law enforcement profession and is a certified as a S.W.A.T. operator and crisis negotiator.
Joe is member of USCCA, ITOA, and the NRA.