Instructors
Robert Cardente
Robert is a retired law enforcement officer with over 20 years of law enforcement experience to date. He is a former member of the Special Response Team (SWAT) and has a wealth of tactical training, active shooter training and raiding experience. He is also an FBI Certified Pistol and Shotgun Instructor, Glock Certified Firearms Instructor, Sig Sauer Active Shooter Instructor, Sig Sauer Shoothouse Instructor, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Active Shooter Threat Instructor, Safariland Certified Rifle Instructor, L.O.C.K.U.P. Certified Use of Force/Handcuff Instructor, and a Glock, Colt and Remington Certified Armorer.
Robert has many years experience training police officers and police recruits handgun, shotgun and rifle skills, use of force techniques, handcuffing procedures and baton/asp methods. He has taught many of these skills to police officers across the state of Rhode Island as well as being an instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy.
On the civilian end, Robert holds 11 NRA instructor certifications in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, Chief Range Safety Officer, Personal Protection in the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, Refuse to be a Victim, NRA CCW, Metallic Cartridge Reloading and Shotgun Shell Reloading. He is also an NRA Training Counselor who can create instructors in those NRA disciplines.
Robert has continued to expand his instructor resume with certifications in USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals, USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals – Level 1 and USCCA Countering the Mass Shooter Threat. He also holds instructor certifications in USCCA Woman’s Handgun and Self-Defense Fundamentals and USCCA Emergency First Aid Fundamentals.
Finally, he is a Utah Certified Concealed Carry Instructor, Massachusetts Approved Firearms Instructor and POST Certified Instructor.
In February 2000, Billy joined the US Army as an Infantryman and went to basic training at Ft. Benning, GA. In 2001, he was deployed to Kosovo as part of a NATO peacekeeping mission and in 2003, he was deployed to Iraq as part of Task Force Viking in Operation Iraqi Freedom. While assigned to 2-14th Infantry, he served as an assistant gunner for the M240 machine gun team, a M240 gunner and a fire team leader.
In 2004, he left active duty and joined the MA National Guard and was assigned to the 772nd Military Police Co. as a MP team leader. In 2008, he deployed for a second time to Iraq and in 2010, he was assigned to the 51st Troop Command (TC) as the Physical Security Non Commissioned Officer where he was responsible for maintaining the Physical Security Program for a Brigade. In 2016, he was assigned to the 101st Regional Training Institute (RTI) as the Army Basic Instructor Course (ABIC) and Non Commissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) Instructor.
Billy has completed the Combat Life Savers (CLS) course, Warrior Leader Course (WLC), Army Physical Security Inspector Course, Army Basic Instructor Course and Small Group Instructor Course. During his 18 years in the military, he has executed and assisted in running hundreds of firing ranges as well as live fire exercises.
In 2007, he began his career in law enforcement and during that time, has attended Verbal Judo training, Field Training Officer (FTO) Certification School and Patrol Rifle School.
Glenn Cipalone
Glenn is a Cranston Police Officer with over 28 years of experience. He is currently assigned to the training division where he is the lead firearms instructor for the department. He was a former member of the Special Response Team (SRT) and has numerous trainings in the areas of tactical training, active shooter, and firearms.
Glenn is a certified FBI and NRA Pistol Instructor and a Center Mass Certified Patrol Rifle Instructor. He is also a certified A.L.I.C.E. Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor and is currently the lead instructor at the Rhode Island Municipal Police Academy, where he has taught for over 18 years. Glenn is also a Certified Sig Sauer Red Dot Instructor.
Daniel Ashworth
Daniel is an active law enforcement Sergeant with the City of Pawtucket with over 19 years of law enforcement experience to date. Daniel is a member of the NRA, an NRA Pistol instructor and NRA Range Safety Officer. He holds several instructor certifications from the Sig Sauer Academy including Red Dot Instructor, Active Shooter Instructor and Low Light Instructor. Daniel is a specialist in executive protection and risk management. He has a wealth of knowledge and training in these areas. Daniel has and continues to protect a wealth of high-profile celebrities and executives. He is a lead instructor of ALICE and taught ALICE throughout New England. He is has continuously provided in depth security assessments throughout New England for businesses, celebrities, schools and homeowners etc. L.O.C.K.U.P. and defensive tactics Instructor as well as Safari land Instructor of Baton, OC Spray and Handcuffing techniques. Former owner and operator of one of the biggest security companies in the New England Area. One of the states only Gang Recognition Experts through the East Coast Gang Investigation Association. Certified in the field testing for narcotics and narcotics recognition. Prides himself in continuous training to better himself and others.
He has several years of training Police Officers and Civilians in several different areas. He has attended several schools including Patrol Rifle school, FTO instructor school, and many verbal de-escalation trainings. He is a proud member of the Community Police Unit in the City of Pawtucket.
Sherry Pratt
Sherry is an avid shooter and strongly believes in the rights of law-abiding citizens to bear arms for lawful self-defense. She is an NRA Certified Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun Instructor and an NRA Chief Range Safety Officer. She also holds instructor certifications for NRA Home Firearm Safety, NRA Personal Protection in the Home, and NRA CCW courses.
Sherry has continued to expand her shooting knowledge and resume with instructor certifications for USCCA Woman’s Handgun and Self-Defense Fundamentals, USCCA Countering the Mass Shooter Threat, USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals and most recently, USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals – Level 1 courses. She is also Stop the Bleed and CPR/AED certified.
Sherry currently holds a Rhode Island concealed carry permit and Utah Non-resident Concealed Carry Permit and strongly encourages others to obtain their permit to carry. When she is not at the range honing her shooting skills, she is tending to her two beautiful horses and riding on the trials.
Robert Shields
Bob has been involved with the fire service since 1985, teaching EMT courses since 1988, a Nationally Registered Paramedic since 1989, and has been a Water Team Rescue Coordinator since 2000. Bob has over 30 years’ experience providing medical aid, responding to emergency situations, and providing life-saving measures to countless individuals.
He is also an author, lecturer, and contributor for a variety of EMS, water rescue, and advanced rescue techniques. Finally, Bob, an Eagle Scout, volunteers his time with the Boy Scouts of America and is a Boy Scout Troop Assistant Scoutmaster and Merit Badge Councilor.
Derek Brodeur
What started as a hobby of pheasant hunting over 20 years ago with his Brittany Spaniel has turned into a passion for firearms. Derek has always believed in the Second Amendment, the right of the people to keep and bear arms and he is committed to guiding others by providing crucial training.
Derek is a member of the NRA and holds the following NRA Instructor certifications: NRA Pistol Instructor, NRA Rifle Instructor, NRA Shotgun Instructor, NRA CCW Instructor, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Certified Home Firearm Safety, Chief Range Safety Officer.
Derek Is also a USCCA member and holds the following USCCA Instructor certifications: USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamentals, USCCA Woman’s Handgun and Self-Defense Fundamentals, USCCA Emergency First Aid, USCCA Countering the Mass Shooter Threat, and most recently, USCCA Defensive Shooting Fundamentals – Level 1 course.
He has completed Stop the Bleed training and several defensive handgun classes, including Intuitive Defensive Shooting. He currently holds concealed carry permits in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Utah and Massachusetts where he is also a certified firearm safety instructor.
You will often find him at the RI State House with other firearms advocates fighting for our Second Amendment rights and against gun control legislation.
Kyle Josephson
A native of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, Kyle Josephson graduated from the Prout High School and the University of Rhode Island before enlisting into the United States Army in 2012. After attending Infantry Basic Training and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, he attended Special Forces Assessment/ Selection at Fort Bragg, NC. After being selected to attend the Special Forces Qualification Course, Kyle was trained in unconventional warfare, land navigation, small unit tactics, survival-evasion-resistance-escape (SERE-C), advanced weapons handling and advanced special operations.
Upon graduating Class 286 and earning his Green Beret, Kyle was assigned to 3D Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg, NC. He served as a Special Forces Weapons Sergeant on Special Forces Operational Detachment Alpha’s (SFOD-A) 3113 and 3121, specializing in small unit tactics, combat marksmanship, close quarters combat, force protection, base defense, weapons handling and employment of foreign and domestic light and heavy weaponry. During his tenure he conducted foreign internal defense and unconventional warfare operations throughout the Middle East and Northern Africa, training, equipping, and advising foreign special operations forces and leading them on offensive combat operations against violent extremist organizations.
Despite having to learn new cultures and languages, Kyle has trained, equipped and lead thousands of Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service, Iraqi Special Forces, Jordanian Special Operations Forces, Mauritanian Presidential Security Battalions, Nigerien Expeditionary Forces and Nigerien Interdiction Company soldiers. While Kyle enjoys shooting, he finds teaching and interacting with the soldiers of foreign special operations forces the most fulfilling. He is a graduate of Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat, Advanced Rifle Marksmanship, Low Visibility Tactics, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, Combat Life Saver, and the Advanced Operator Course. Kyle has now transitioned out of the military and has moved back to Rhode Island, instructing members of his community on advanced weapons handling, close quarters combat and small unit tactics.
Candace is an active law enforcement officer and holds the rank of Detective Corporal with the East Providence Police Department. Candace is currently assigned to a task force with the Rhode Island State Police.
As a certified NRA Instructor, Candace instructs firearms at the RI Municipal Police Training Academy and has previously served full-time with the academy as a Class Training Officer. Additionally, she has acted as a Field Training Officer for several years training new police officers for EPPD. Candace is a Law Enforcement Fitness Specialist certified by the Cooper Institute and an FBI-certified Crisis Negotiator.
Finally, Candace is Patrol Rifle certified and has undergone many additional trainings, such as Counter Ambush Tactics.
Jacob Rainville
Jacob has over 30 years of experience in full-time martial arts instruction, specializing in youth fitness and activity programs. He is passionate about instilling the discipline, values and character that martial arts training offers to all students. Jacob holds two master level black belts in the Korean art of Tae Kwon Do, as well as having over 20 years experience in diverse practices, including Jiu Jitsu and Krav Maga.
Jacob owned and operated Rainville Taekwondo – Martial Arts & Fitness in East Greenwich, RI from 2000 to 2021 where he organized and oversaw hundreds of community events, celebrations, camps and fundraisers. He is renowned in the West Bay Area for his high energy style of teaching, incorporating the right blend of fun and discipline into classes for all ages.
Enroll Today. Satisfaction Guaranteed
We pride ourselves in teaching firearm safety and shooting skills to both beginners and professionals. Come learn in a comfortable environment with experienced instructors who are patient, dedicated and knowledgeable in all aspects of firearms instruction.