Meet the Team
At Tactical Shepherd, our instructors bring decades of real-world experience from both military and law enforcement backgrounds. We are proud to be Maryland Police Training Commission (MPTC) Certified Instructors, MPTC Firearms Instructors, and certified Maryland State Police Handgun Qualification License and Wear and Carry Instructors. With this extensive training and hands-on experience, we are committed to providing expert instruction in all aspects of firearms safety and handling.
We pride ourselves on our team’s real-world expertise and passion for teaching. Our instructors' diverse backgrounds in military and law enforcement ensure you receive the highest quality training available. Let our experience make the difference in your firearms education.
Mel Adam
Mel Adam is a 25-year veteran of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police (NRP) and the co-founder of the Tactical Response Team (TRT), where he served as Team Leader for 13 years.
With extensive expertise in Firearms Training, Active Shooter Response, Woodland Tactical Operations, and Maritime Tactical Operations, Mel has successfully planned, coordinated, and led countless tactical operations throughout his career. He has also provided training to Military and Law Enforcement personnel in Special Operations for over a decade. Additionally, he served as the Training Chairman for the Maritime Tactical Operations Group (MTOG), a collaborative effort involving over 20 Federal, State, and Local Law Enforcement Agencies.
Mel's military background includes 15 years of service as a Scout Sniper in both the United States Marine Corps and the Army National Guard.
Throughout his career, Mel has also served as a Police Officer with the Natural Resources Police and the Havre de Grace Police Department, further solidifying his extensive law enforcement experience.
Kenny Porter
Kenny Porter is a retired 20-year veteran of the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, where he was honored with the department's highest recognition, the Sheriff's Office Medal of Honor. He is a certified Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and a graduate of the Howard County Police Department SWAT School. Over the past decade, Kenny has trained both officers and recruits in active shooter and officer survival scenarios.
In addition to his law enforcement career, Kenny has served for 20 years in an Infantry Unit with the Maryland Army National Guard, earning numerous accolades as a highly decorated combat veteran with multiple overseas deployments. He is a graduate of the Army Small Arms Readiness Mobilization/Master Marksmanship Instructor Course, having trained countless soldiers in primary marksmanship throughout his military career.
Kenny continues to serve in the security field, providing armed protection to others.
John Stricklett
John Stricklett brings 31 years of military experience as an Army Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team Leader, where he served and supported conventional EOD units, local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, special operations units, nuclear disablement teams, and Weapons of Mass Destruction Coordination Elements. Throughout his career, John completed eight combat deployments.
He has trained countless U.S. military and Iraqi Security Force personnel in basic rifle and pistol marksmanship. His professional development includes completing courses such as the Army’s Marksmanship Master Trainer Course, FBI Post Blast Investigation Course, Global Anti-terrorism Operations Readiness Course, and Level 4 Combatives Instructor. He is also an AGI Certified Master Gunsmith.
John is a highly decorated combat veteran, recognized twice for “Valor” during his combat deployments. He has destroyed over 500,000 pieces of enemy ordnance and neutralized more than 750 IEDs.
Angel Valle
With over 28 years of experience in law enforcement, Angel Valle is currently serving as a Lieutenant with the Cecil County Sheriff's Office. Throughout his distinguished career, Angel has received numerous awards for his service and dedication.
As a firearms instructor since 2005, Angel holds a variety of credentials, including certification as an MPCTC Firearms Instructor, Long Rifle (AR-15 Platform) Instructor, Red Dot System (RDS) Instructor, Glock Certified Armorer, and AR-15 Platform Instructor. He is also a General Topic Law Enforcement Instructor. In addition to his instructional expertise, Angel has spent over a decade training officers and recruits in active shooter and officer survival scenarios.
Angel has specialized in criminal investigations for over ten years, with a particular focus on crimes against children.
Tim Grove
Tim Grove is a retired law enforcement officer with over 30 years of distinguished service with the Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP), retiring in 2020. Throughout his career, Tim demonstrated exceptional leadership in patrolling, supervising, and commanding NRP officers and operations across Harford, Baltimore, and Cecil Counties. He ultimately concluded his service as the Commander of the agency’s Special Operations Division, overseeing critical units such as Criminal Investigations, Underwater Operations, K9, and the Tactical Response Team (TRT).
Tim was a founding member of the TRT, alongside Mel, where they worked together on numerous missions and training exercises over the years. They also participated in the MPCTC Firearms Instructor School and SWAT training. In his leadership role, Tim served as the Lead Firearms Instructor for NRP’s Central Region and played a key role in instructing multiple NRP Academy classes and agency Firearms Instructor schools. His expertise also extends to managing complex search operations and serving as a certified Tactical Commander through the National Tactical Officers Association (NTOA).
James Kozlowski
James Kozlowski is an award-winning law enforcement and security executive with over 25 years of experience in the Maryland State Police, Baltimore City Police Department, and the US Marshals Service. He is a certified Qualified Handgun Instructor (QHI) with the Maryland State Police and authorized to train for Handgun Qualification Licenses (HQL) and Wear and Carry permits.
James led the Maryland State Police Executive Protection Detail and was part of Baltimore City’s Quick Response Team (SWAT). He has extensive experience in firearms instruction, active shooter response, and tactical operations. He has received multiple awards, including the "Top Gun" Award from the Maryland State Police Firearms Instructor School.
James has provided security for high-profile figures, including President Clinton, Pope John Paul II, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and has worked alongside the U.S. Secret Service and U.S. Capitol Police for counter-sniper support and motorcade security.
As a member of the Maryland State Police Licensing Division, James oversaw the Handgun Permit Section and developed training requirements for the 2013 Firearms Safety Act, which governs handgun qualifications for professionals, including police officers, security guards, and armored car drivers.
James holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and has received several commendations, including a Governor's Citation and the Commander's Award.
Duane Janney
Duane Janney is a retired Trooper from the Maryland State Police with a distinguished career in law enforcement. During his tenure, Duane served in multiple capacities, including associate police academy instructor, field training trooper, and assisting with Use of Force in-service training. He was also a court-recognized Drug Recognition Expert (D.R.E.) and an accident reconstructionist.
Duane’s exceptional service earned him numerous accolades, including the Baltimore Sun Police Officer of the Year Award and a Superintendent's Award for his involvement in the high-profile MD/DC sniper investigation in 2003. He was also recognized as a qualified Pistol Master and held certifications with the M4 and shotgun. In addition, Duane was selected to represent the MD State Police Northern Region in a prestigious firearms competition.
After retiring from law enforcement, Duane transitioned to the private sector. He worked as a licensed private investigator for six years and held several key positions with a prominent defense contractor, including serving as a Program Security Officer, where he managed classified testing operations for government clients. Additionally, Duane served as a Facilities Security Officer, overseeing physical and operational security.
Duane is a certified Glock Armorer and continues to bring his wealth of experience to firearm training.
Kristyanna Erickson
Kristyanna began her training with Tactical Shepherd during the facility’s inaugural year in 2020, and since then, she has completed almost all of our firearms training courses. While Kristyanna is not a firearms instructor, she plays a crucial role within the Tactical Shepherd team, serving as the website designer, system administrator, and membership coordinator.
In addition to her work with Tactical Shepherd, Kristyanna holds a doctoral degree in Mathematics Education and is a tenured mathematics professor.
Kristyanna has been passionate about the firearms world for over a decade, enjoying a variety of activities such as clay pigeon shooting, target shooting with both rifle and pistol, and mounted shooting with her horse.
