About Us
Final Defense Institute LLC, was established in 2013 as a small business veteran owned company. We apply a unique approach to firearms training and education by using proven methods with emphasis on skill development, individual attention and realism.
Each member of our team brings years of vetted experience from Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe to the streets of your community. Our training philosophy is designed to challenge the student to their full potential by first identifying their weaknesses and in the end identifying their full potential. In these challenging times you owe it to yourself, your family and the community you live in to train with a progressive firearms company and “make every shot count”.
Meet our Team
Eric Perkins
Director of Training
Eric Perkins is an active duty law enforcement officer with 32 years of law enforcement experience. He currently serves as a patrol deputy for a county sheriff’s office just west of Chicago, Illinois. During his career he has held several specialty assignments and has participated in the successful resolution of barricaded gunman situations, hostage rescue missions, felony fugitive apprehensions, and high-risk warrant service operations.
Eric’s efforts have been recognized through the numerous awards and he is a two-time recipient of the Medal of Valor (SWAT and patrol) and has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (SWAT), and the Medal of Commendation (SWAT). In addition, he has been awarded the Illinois Tactical Officers Association Medal of Excellence for heroism and the Illinois Tactical Officers Association Gary Stryker Award for his exceptional dedication and devotion to law enforcement.
Eric is a former assistant instructor at the Mid-South Institute of Self-Defense Shooting in Lake Cormorant, MS., providing specialized pistol and rifle instruction to U.S. and foreign Special Operations Personnel. Eric acted as the lead instructor to Eastern European Special Response Teams and Counter Terrorism (CT) Units by providing law enforcement counter-ambush and survival mind-set training. Eric’s other activities include being an accomplished competitive shooter and published author. Eric is a member of the National Tactical Officers Association and served on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Tactical Officers Association from 2007 to 2021. In 2013, Eric formed Final Defense Institute, LLC, a company specializing in firearm’s training and education.
Justin Humpich
Lead Instructor
Justin Humpich has been a police officer for 11 years and works in a southern Cook County suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Justin is an assault team member on a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team holding a verity of team roles and responsibilities. Justin is a former Marine Corps infantry rifleman and designated marksman having served in southwest Asia. Prior to his law enforcement career, Justin was a government contractor firearms instructor. Justin has instructed for Final Defense Institute, LLC since 2015.
Chris Joswick
Instructor
Chris “Joz” Joswick is a police officer with over 17 years of experience in a southwest Chicago suburb. Currently, he is a department firearms program instructor and training developer.
Chris has been an entry team operator with a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team for the past 7 years and has had key roles in hostage rescue, high risk warrant service and barricaded subject operations.
Chris holds a number of training certifications including ITOA Master TPO instructor, Close Quarter Battle pistol/rifle, Vehicle Close Quarter Battle, TACMED, MACTAC and Rapid Deployment.
He is an avid shooting enthusiast and has competed in competitive shooting events throughout his career. Chris has trained with world class firearms and tactic instructors around the nation and has been an assistant instructor with Final Defense Institute for 5 years, instructing VORTEX level 1, VORTEX level 2 and is an authorized Illinois state concealed carry instructor.
Rick Smith
Instructor
Rick Smith has been a police officer in a Chicago suburb for the past 14 years and is currently assigned to a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team where he holds the position of entry team squad leader.
Rick is a full-time trainer for his agency having a multitude of responsibilities including, developing yearly in-service curriculum for over 100 full-time law enforcement officers and over 70 auxiliary officers. While on SWAT Rick has participated in hundreds of successful tactical operations such as, high risk warrant service, barricaded gunman, buy bust arrests, Weapons of Mass Destruction events and hostage rescue operations.
Rick is a combat Marine veteran having served in south west Asia and Africa. Rick is the recipient multiple awards and accomplishments, including a Purple Heart and a Combat Action Ribbon. Rick is a certified instructor in the following disciplines; Pistol Instructor, Rifle/Carbine Instructor, Less Lethal Munitions Deployment Instructor, Chemical Munitions Deployment Instructor, Noise Flash Diversionary Device Instructor, Taser Instructor, PPCT Defensive Tactics Instructor, and WMD Law Enforcement Protective Measures Instructor. Rick has been an instructor for Final Defense Institute since 2016.
Paul Milone
Instructor
Paul Milone is an 22 year veteran of the Omaha (Nebraska) Police Department having spent the last 18 years in the department’s special operations division.
To date, Paul has served in Gang Suppression, Narcotics and has 16 years of experience in SWAT. As a member of the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Paul has been involved in well over 1000 operations including; hostage rescue, dignitary protection, barricaded gunman, witness protection, bank robbery detail and site security of high profile national sporting events in the city of Omaha, Nebraska.
Paul has been part of the undercover operations for 13 years, and has participated in well over 700 high risk warrant entries, having performed multiple team roles and has worked hundreds of undercover operations both as the undercover officer and as part of the surveillance / arrest element. Paul is the recipient of the Omaha Police Department’s Live Saving Medal and 3-time recipient of the Unit Ribbon of Excellence. In 2011, Paul distinguished himself as the recipient of the Chudwin Award while at the National Patrol Rifle Conference for actions taken in 2010 hostage rescue mission. Paul holds certifications in firearms instruction, defensive tactics, patrol rifle, SWAT, explosive breaching, & advanced undercover operations.
Jim Dexter
Instructor
Jim Dexter is a 15 year law enforcement officer who spent 10 years in the volunteer fire service. He serves as a patrol Sergeant and is currently assigned as a SWAT Force Commander on a multi-jurisdictional team. As an FBI certified Firearms Instructor and American Safety and Health Institute Emergency Medical Responder Instructor, Jim combines the experiences in his background to deliver a curriculum tailored to your environment.
Jim is a State of Illinois Basic SWAT, FBI Pistol Instructor and Red Dot Pistol Instructor, an Illinois Tactical Officers Association Tourniquet and Bandage Instructor, Rescue Task Force Instructor, and Self-aid/buddy-aid Instructor as well as a graduate of the Tactical Combat Casualty Care – Medical Provider course. All Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) content has been marked as approved educational content by the Committee on TECC. Having served with the US Army in Iraq Jim brings both tactical and medical experience to law enforcement and citizens alike as a Stop The Bleed Instructor and Tactical Emergency Combat Care Instructor. His prior employment with the Federal Air Marshal Service has placed him in locations around the world where preparation and possession of a “sound” skill-set was crucial.
Jim has extensive end user experience and training in Red Dot Sight (RDS) equipped pistols and has assisted multiple police departments nationwide in the approval and implementation of RDS pistols. He has published RDS implementation articles and is cited in firearm manufacturer RDS programs. Tactically Sound Training Center is the only entity with red dot pistol training approved by the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board. Jim is a member of the Walther Arms Defense Division.
Dave Klaus
Instructor
David Klaus is a retired US Army Special Forces medic and team sergeant with extensive combat experience who is now the medic on a full time State Police SWAT team. He has graduated from numerous military and law enforcement training, including Ranger School and the Special Forces Medical Sergeant Qualification Course.
He has instructed in the tactical and medical capacity in both his Special Forces and law enforcement careers, as well as participating in numerous real-world operation in both roles.
James Thurn
Instructor
James Thrun is a 7 year deputy, working at a Sheriff’s Office in the suburbs of Chicago. He is currently assigned to the Tactical Operations and Training Division, has spent 6 years on a multi-jurisdictional SWAT team, as well as 4 years with a state-wide Special Response Team.
James is a certified instructor in a variety of disciplines including pistol, rifle, less lethal munitions, and active threat response. Outside of
work, James is a competitive USPSA pistol shooter, where he achieved a Master classification. James has assisted with both law enforcement and civilian classes with FDI for 2 years.
James Hibbs
Instructor
James Hibbs is a Patrolman for the last seven years in the South Suburbs of Chicago. James is also assigned to collateral duties as an Assistant Team Leader for the multi-jurisdictional SWAT team. Prior to pursuing a career in law enforcement, James served six years as an Infantryman in the Army.
James continues his service as an active Army Reservist. James holds various instructor level certifications as they pertain to patrol and SWAT operations and tactics as well as an Active Threat Master Instructor.
Evan Darger
Instructor
Evan Darger is a 12 year veteran of the fire service, having spend the last 7 with a Multi-Regional SWAT team as a tactical Paramedic. Evan has also worked as a critical care paramedic, transferring critically injured and ill patients while maintaining ICU levels of care. Evan is an Illinois licensed lead instructor, having served as lead instructor and program director for a regional paramedic program, and has privately instructed multiple fire agencies, police departments, and private companies on casualty care and RTF concepts.
Evan brings extensive field and clinical knowledge to his instruction of both buddy and self aid techniques, having a particular passion for passing on knowledge to law enforcement.