About Us

It takes a lot of dedicated people to make an organization like this work.  ADTA is member-led and member-instructed.  We are growing and looking for new volunteers.  Find out more – Email us or attend one of our Monthly Fun Shoots.  We're looking forward to hearing from you.

2023 Board Members

Gary Larkin President

Wu Chin Vice President

John Shaw Secretary

Ed Streit Treasurer

Doreen Sarles

Brandon Knutson

Jeff Bement

Operations Team

Jeff Bickford Chief Instructor

Jeremy Robinson Chief Instructor

Brandon Knutson Training Director

Jeff Bement Chief RSO & Safety Director

John Shaw Chief RSO

Doreen Sarles Chief Instructor

Jeff Bickford Membership Director

Ed Streit Marketing Director

Instructors

Instructors teach our members to shoot confidently and skillfully.  ADTA operates its own Instructor training program based on NRA and Front Sight curricula.

Range Safety Officers

RSOs assure the safety of everyone at ADTA events.  Our Range Safety Officer training focuses on maintaining safety at ADTA defensive handgun live fire practice events and ADTA workshop meetings.  Following classroom training, our RSOs are required to serve an apprenticeship under the supervision of senior RSOs and Instructors.  

Mentors

Mentors are ADTA members who help beginners learn to shoot.  They are specially trained to help new shooters select their first firearms and become comfortable shooting them.  To find out more about our New Shooter 101 training program, click here.

Past Board Members

Mark Knapp

Byron Hiller

Matthew Jarvis

Jerry Galland

Dan Goede

April Hiatt

Stephanie Taylor

Jackie Piel

Evan Krill

Jeremy Robinson

Richard Hatcher

Jeff Bickford

Jeff Coder

Jeff Patton

Claudia Mizukami

Chad Hiatt

Steve Tilka

Tim Buchanan

Tony Wilson

Founders

The original idea of ADTA was conceived by Mark Knapp in a "Firearms Lawyer" newspaper column he wrote for the Federal Way Mirror.  Mark convinced friends from the Chamber of Commerce and business community to help out.  Here are the folks that founded ADTA in 2011.