Paul Duffy
Paul’s passion for responsible firearms ownership is matched by his commitment to elite-level training and real-world readiness. He began building his professional foundation at the Academi Training Center in Moyock, North Carolina, and has continued to refine his skills through nationally recognized certifications and instructor development.
Paul is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol and Rifle Instructor, an NRA Range Safety Officer, a Maryland State Police–certified Handgun Instructor, and a Utah Department of Public Safety–certified Concealed Carry Instructor. He is also a graduate of the ALiCE Institute’s Active Shooter Instructor Certification Program, equipping him to teach practical response strategies in today’s evolving threat environment.
As a longtime successful small business owner in Columbia, Maryland, Paul understands leadership, discipline, and accountability. He brings that same professional standard into every class he teaches—creating a training environment that is structured, safe, and empowering.
Holding concealed carry permits in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Utah, Paul is a strong advocate for the lawful and responsible exercise of Second Amendment rights. His instruction goes beyond the minimum requirements—he equips students with confidence, competence, and the mindset necessary to carry responsibly.
Together with Frank Duffy, Paul co-founded Spartan Firearms Training Group to raise the standard of firearms training in Maryland. Their mission is clear: provide high-quality, legally sound, and skill-focused instruction that prepares everyday citizens to protect themselves and their families safely and responsibly.
Train with purpose. Carry with confidence.
Contact Paul at Paul@Spartanftg.com.
Fran Duffy
Francis (Fran) Duffy brings elite Special Operations experience and decades of instructional leadership to Spartan Firearms Training Group.
A veteran of the U.S. Army’s 6th and 5th Special Forces Groups (Green Berets), Frank served on Operational Detachment-Alpha 424 — a combat dive team — where he was his A-Team’s Medical Sergeant with cross-training in weapons. He graduated from the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course and earned the coveted U.S. Army Ranger Tab, representing the highest standards of discipline, resilience, and operational competence.
Frank’s professional protection credentials extend well beyond his military service. He is a Certified Executive Protection Specialist through the Executive Protection Institute and a graduate of the Institute’s Protectors Firearms Course. He completed defensive handgun training at Gunsite Academy and continues to sharpen his skills annually at premier facilities such as Academi (Moyock, NC), Team Torn (Nevada), and Oak Grove Technologies (NC).
In the civilian training arena, Frank is a certified NRA Pistol and Rifle Instructor, a Maryland State Police–certified Firearms Instructor, and a Washington, DC–certified Concealed Carry Instructor. He is also a certified course instructor for the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) and a graduate of the ALiCE Institute’s Active Shooter Instructor Certification Program. He holds concealed carry permits in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Utah.
Beyond the range, Frank is a Life Member of Maryland Shall Issue and serves on its Board of Directors, actively advocating for the lawful and responsible exercise of Second Amendment rights in Maryland.
With more than 25 years of experience designing and delivering training programs rooted in adult learning principles, Frank does more than teach marksmanship — he builds confident, capable, and legally prepared citizens. His instruction blends Special Operations discipline with practical civilian application, ensuring students leave not only qualified, but truly prepared.
Together with Paul, Frank co-founded Spartan Firearms Training Group with a clear mission:
Raise the standard. Train beyond the minimum. Prepare responsibly.
Frank can be reached at Frank@Spartanftg.com.
Ryan Thomas
Sergeant Ryan Thomas teaches the Spartan Firearms Training Group’s (SFTG) Emergency Casualty Care Course (E-Triple C), which has been offered since 2016. He also assists with the SFTG firearms courses on the live-fire range.
He has over twenty years of emergency medical training and eighteen years of law enforcement experience. He brings real-world experience from his time as a career firefighter/paramedic, flight paramedic, and uniformed police officer to every E-Triple C class.
Ryan is currently certified in ACLS, PALS, BTLS, NRP, ABLS, and is an ACLS and PALS instructor. As a law enforcement officer he has been assigned to Patrol, Vice/Narcotics, Bike, SWAT, Emergency Services Unit, and to his agency’s Police Academy as an instructor. Ryan is currently the Chairman of the Maryland Law Enforcement Emergency Medical Care Course Advisory Board.
Marty Day
Marty Day brings over two decades of elite military and federal law enforcement firearms experience to Spartan Firearms Training Group.
A former U.S. Marine infantry machine gunner with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Marty built his foundation in one of the most demanding combat arms environments in the world. He later served as an Instructor for the Advanced Machinegun Leader’s Course at the Advanced Infantry Training Company — entrusted with developing the next generation of Marine Corps weapons leaders.
Today, Marty serves as a Lead Law Enforcement Specialist within the U.S. Secret Service firearms training program, where standards are uncompromising and performance is non-negotiable. His daily mission: train and prepare federal law enforcement professionals to perform under extreme pressure with precision, discipline, and accountability.
Marty specializes in small arms instruction across basic, intermediate, and advanced levels. His expertise spans precision marksmanship, efficient weapon handling, and performance-based training methods designed to hold up in real-world environments — not just on a square range.
He holds instructor-level certifications from nationally recognized organizations including the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Throughout his career, he has instructed, certified, and trained private citizens, local law enforcement, state agencies, federal officers, and Department of Defense personnel.
Marty’s instruction style is direct, disciplined, and results-driven. He brings a federal law enforcement training mindset to every class — raising expectations, sharpening skills, and building confident, capable shooters.
At Spartan Firearms Training Group, Marty helps set the standard.
Train with professionals who train professionals.
Beau Bryant
Beau Bryant brings combat-proven Special Operations experience and performance-driven training to Spartan Firearms Training Group.
A combat veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Joint Special Operations Command, Beau served on special operations teams conducting some of the most sensitive missions of the War on Terror. In those high-risk environments, precision was not optional. Success demanded superior skill in intelligence collection, operational analysis, and seamless coordination under pressure.
As a member of these teams, Beau was required to maintain exceptional proficiency with a wide range of firearms. That commitment placed him alongside some of the world’s top combat pistol and rifle instructors, sharpening his performance standards to a level few ever experience. His training also includes completion of the U.S. Army Combatives Course, equipping him with close-quarters, hand-to-hand combat skills built on the principle of closing with and decisively defeating an adversary.
But Beau’s expertise doesn’t stop on the battlefield.
In civilian life, he channels that same discipline into strength and performance coaching as a former owner and trainer at Westminster Barbell in Westminster, Maryland. There, he helps men and women of all ages build real-world strength, resilience, and confidence. His philosophy is simple: strength is foundational. Whether training for martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or preparing to carry a firearm responsibly, physical capability enhances survivability and performance.
Beau bridges the gap between combat readiness and civilian preparedness — integrating firearms proficiency, combatives, and strength training into a unified approach to personal defense.
Through Spartan Firearms Training Group, Beau helps students build not just skill — but capability.
Stronger. Faster. More prepared.
Randy Garland
Randy Garland is currently employed as an Armed Security Specialist with the Department of Defense. He served 4 years in the United States Marine Corps as an Amphibious Assault Crew Chief before enlisting in the United States Army as a medic.
While serving in the United States Army, he earned the “tower of power,” and donned the Airborne, Ranger, and Special Forces tabs on his shoulder. He was also a certified Static Line and HALO (High Altitude Low Opening) Jumpmaster.
Randy served in combat with 3rd Special Forces Group (the Green Berets) in Afghanistan where his team was credited with training over 300 Afghan Security Guards and the discovery and destruction of over 100 IED’s. His Operational Detachment-A (ODA) team conducted more than 180 Combat Reconnaissance Patrols and five Humanitarian Aid missions. In addition, as the team medic, Randy was responsible for treating over 15,000 Afghan civilians and soldiers during his time in Afghanistan. Randy was awarded three Bronze Star medals, one with Valor for his selfless actions during combat. He retired from the United States Army in 2016 to spend more time with his wife and 5 sons. Randy maintains his firearm training through the Department of Defense and loves spending time on the Range.
Chase Chandler
Chase “Bama” Chandler is special operations veteran having served with Naval Special Warfare as a Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewman (SWCC) where he became an expert in small arms and heavy weapons and was also a graduate of the US Army’s Special Operations Combat Medic course (SOCM) where he was certified as an Advanced Tactical Practitioner. He was also a nationally registered EMT and paramedic in the state of Georgia.
During his time with NSW, Chase was also certified NSW Range Safety Officer as well as TCCC instructor. He conducted deployments with varying mission sets in multiple theatres and has maintained proficiency with multiple weapon systems. Chase left the Navy in 2011 and achieved advanced degrees in physics. He maintains a small farm/homestead in northern Maryland and enjoys transferring the knowledge he learned during his time in service to help the general public obtain a confident level of fire arms proficiency, close quarters self-defense, and self-reliance.
Cody Merson
Cody Merson served as a member of the 1st Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. He graduated from the Army’s highest level of sniper training- the U. S. Special Forces Sniper Course where he graduated at the top of his class. Cody also completed the U.S. Army Sniper School and obtained additional certification for long range engagements through the Shooter Performance Institute (SPI).
Cody completed four combat deployments to Afghanistan where he was exposed to close quarters combat situations, as well as long-range engagements. These exposures allowed him to apply his training in real world situations to facilitate the successful completion of high-value operations.
He left the military in 2018 when he decided to prioritize his family and moved back to Maryland to pursue a career in law-enforcement. He became a member of the Howard County Police Department, where he excelled and successfully became part of the department’s SWAT team. During this time, Cody was also a member of the United States National Guard where he served as one of the lead instructors for the Maryland Sniper section. His involvement with law-enforcement and the National Guard provided opportunities to compete in military and law-enforcement long-range shooting competitions, as well as PRS style matches.
Jordon Leppo
Jordon is currently employed by the Baltimore City Police Department (BCPD) as a SWAT officer. He is also a member of the BCPD sniper team. During his career as police officer, he worked in district-level and city-wide narcotics and violent crimes units.
He attended two SWAT schools, a sniper school, several close quarters combat schools, and a maritime operators course. He holds certifications as a wilderness first responder, in wilderness survival, and in swift water rescue. He is certified through the Maryland police training center as a firearms instructor, and is a certified instructor for Active Threat Integrated Response course through NDPC and LSU university
Jason Merson
Jason Merson has over 40 years of law enforcement and protective service experience. Jason retired as a Sergeant from the Maryland State Police where he had a myriad of assignments to include serving in various patrol and investigative functions. He finished his career as an instructor in the Maryland State Police Training Academy where he trained new recruits in fitness protocols, patrol functions, investigative techniques and officer survival tactics. Since retiring Jason has continued working as a protection specialist with various protective services companies operating in DC, Maryland and Virginia. He is a certified firearms instructor through USCCA and has thoroughly enjoyed sharing his knowledge and experience with Spartan Firearms Training Group participants since 2021.
