Instructors

Jason Falconer is the president and owner of Tactical Advantage and has also been operating Tactical Advantage Firearms Training, Inc., since 2003. Tactical Advantage currently concentrates on firearms training for individuals in a group or private setting, including Minnesota Permit to Carry courses. Jason has also created advanced and customized classes for individuals who desire more advanced safety training. As a consulting member of SMEAC, Jason specializes in reality-based training, law enforcement and personal security training. His business has grown primarily through student referrals and he takes great pride in providing the best training options available in central Minnesota.

Jason believes everyone can always learn something new, no matter what their expertise or discipline. That’s why continued education and training has been a strong personal interest of his. As a result, he’s attended some of the best firearms training schools in the United States. His goal is to teach individuals the mindset, knowledge and skills needed to be successful with firearms in order to secure their personal safety or that of their family; at home or in public. As a firearm training professional, he continuously researches and develops new curriculum and training methods to make the experience for his students the best they can get.

Since 2008, Jason has been assisting with St. Cloud State University’s Law Enforcement Skills Training in the disciplines of decision shooting and dynamic entry. He intends to use this experience to further develop the curriculum to help instruct law enforcement professionals and responsible citizens the benefits of reality-based training. Jason believes that although civilian and law enforcement students can obtain great firearms training from various sources, they are missing a key component in their personal safety training if that training is not reality-based.

Jason has a law enforcement background; he is the former Chief of the Albany Police Department and he continues to serve as a part-time officer with the City of Avon. Jason also serves as the department’s firearms instructor and has created POST Board approved firearms training curriculum.

He is an instructor with the United States Conceal and Carry Association (USCCA), a certified instructor with the National Rifle Association (NRA), a part of the Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (GSSF), a certified Glock Armorer and a member of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Granite Lodge #17.

Jason has been a member of the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) as well as a local club, the St. Cloud Area Practical Shooter’s Association (SCAPSA) for many years. He competes at the SCAPSA outdoor range in matches and league competitions, and has attained several league championships in various divisions. Jason is an avid 3-gun competitor and has had the privilege to compete along side some of best 3-gun competitors in the shooting sports today. In June 2012, St. Cloud hosted the Canadian-American Police-Fire Games (CAN-AM) for law enforcement and firefighters from around the world. Jason was fortunate to compete in various CAN-AM events including two of his passions, shooting sports and ice hockey. For his efforts, as well as his team members, Jason earned 6 CAN-AM medals, 5 for shooting events and 1 for hockey. This was a tremendous experience to be treasured.

Kristie Watson is the manager of Tactical Advantage as well as an instructor of the Permit to Carry, Introduction to Handgun and Refuse to be a Victim courses. She received her A.A.S. in law enforcement from Alexandria Technical College.

Kristie is the leader of the Waite Park chapter of The Well Armed Woman (TWAW), a local group of women who meet monthly to practice with firearms and learn about issues important to women shooters. Monthly meetings are held at Tactical Advantage on the third Thursday at 6 p.m.

Kristie is currently the only female member of the Tactical Advantage Shooting Team. She is a very experienced pistol shooter competing in various pistol disciplines. This coming year she plans to expand her shooting sports experience with 3-gun competition.

She is certified as a basic pistol instructor, refuse to be a victim instructor and range safety officer by the NRA, is an instructor with the USCCA, a member of the GSSF and a certified Glock Armorer. She’s working on becoming a part of TWAW shooting team.

Dennis Shafer is an instructor for the Minnesota Permit to Carry and Introduction to Handguns courses at Tactical Advantage. Dennis started his journey at Tactical Advantage by becoming a member in 2014. Dennis brings to the team years of experience learning and teaching the fundamentals of defensive shooting and firearm use.

Dennis has built his skill set and knowledge by participating in various outlets. Dennis owned his own martial arts studio and taught many populations various self-defense courses involving techniques of stance, balance, focus and follow-through. Dennis utilizes these skills with his shooting.

Dennis’ interest and drive to expand on these skills led him to be a member of a specialized elite Navy Seal-inspired defensive pistol and tactical rifle program. Dennis was challenged on many different levels with various tactical scenarios and force-on-force training. Some of the courses Dennis mastered are: shooting fundamentals, principles of retention and immediate actions, multiple targets and transitions, conflict avoidance and deterrence, situational awareness, room clearing along with the principles of weapons strikes. In addition, Dennis attended the instructor training program run by the USCCA where he learned concealed carry and home defense fundamentals, firearms fundamentals, and the legal aspects of concealed carry and the use of deadly force.

Dennis is now bringing these skills, knowledge and training to Tactical Advantage. As a Tactical Advantage instructor, Dennis enjoys the process of teaching and sharing his knowledge while observing class participants’ sense of pride and accomplishment implementing the skills they have learned.

Dennis is a USCCA certified firearms instructor, NRA certified range safety officer, a GSSF member and Tactical Advantage Shooting Team Member.

Corey Nellis is an instructor for Tactical Advantage as well as a range safety officer and salesperson. He is currently the Chief of Police of Avon, and spent 22 years between being the chief of the Walnut Grove Police Department and an officer in the Redwood Falls Police Department. He joined Tactical Advantage in June 2014 where he teaches Minnesota Permit to Carry and Introduction to Handguns courses.

Corey earned his A.A.S. in law enforcement from Alexandria Technical College and currently teaches decision shooting, dynamic entry and response to active shooter classes to law enforcement students at Alexandria Technical College and St. Cloud State University.

Corey is a member of the USCCA, Stearns County Chiefs of Police Association (SCCPA) and Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA).

Besides firearms, Corey is also a firefighter and has been with the Avon Fire Department since 2001. He is a member of the Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board and the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education.

Joe Lichy is a range safety officer and salesperson at Tactical Advantage. He was a correctional officer and deputy with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Office for nearly 27 years. He received a degree in criminal justice from Willmar Community College and completed his law enforcement skills training at Hibbing Area Vocational Technical Institute.

Joe served as the use of force and firearms instructor for the department for 21 years. He’s been a volunteer firearms safety instructor for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources since 2000.

Joe is a member of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police Granite Lodge #17 as well as the St. Cloud Fraternal Order of the Eagles #622. He’s been with Tactical Advantage since October 2015 and in his free time enjoys fishing and golfing.