Jake Kiere is a firearms instructor and firearms industry consultant from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. Jake grew up shooting but developed a passion for teaching after taking his first formal firearms training class in 2014. He began working at an indoor range both as a Range Safety Officer and Instructor, eventually becoming the primary instructor for that range location. He then moved into firearms retail and was asked to consult on the planning and construction of a brand-new, state-of-the-art range facility. Jake never stopped teaching and taking classes, amassing hundreds of hours of training and teaching thousands of students in many different disciplines. He has been awarded “Instructor of the Year” awards, trained with some of the finest instructors in the firearms industry, built fully-functional training programs, and much more before assembling the team for FirstLine Development Group in 2020. Jake’s style is laid-back, friendly, and fun, fostering a productive learning environment that encourages personal improvement and responsibility.

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Kiere holds Pistol Instructor and Chief Range Safety Officer certifications through the National Rifle Association and is certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as a License to Carry Instructor, School Safety Instructor, and First Responder Instructor. He also holds a certification as a Professional Training Organization through Ultimate Training Munitions.  

Thomas Varley has lived and worked in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex for the majority of his life. While working part-time at a local gun range, he discovered a passion for firearms and helping others develop the knowledge and skill sets necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones with an emphasis on self-reliance. Unable to entirely scratch the itch solely through firearms instruction, he chose to follow his lifelong passion for helping others by entering into public service. Thomas went through rigorous training to secure a position as a Firefighter/EMT with one of the largest and busiest fire departments in the nation. In the pursuit of always learning more and growing on an individual level, he seeks training when and where feasible - this includes becoming a Technical Rescue Technician that specializes in rope rescue, confined space rescue, and structural collapse rescue as well as being a certified Hazmat Technician for his department. Not only does Thomas bring a friendly, fun environment to the classroom setting, he also brings years of real-world experience in the pre-hospital emergency care setting.

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Varley is a state of Texas certified EMT-B and Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) certified Structural Firefighter. He is also an American Red Cross-certified Licensed Training Provider providing First Aid, CPR, and AED training, and an NRA-certified Range Safety Officer and Pistol Instructor. 

Johnny Meagher established his career as a firearms salesman working at a high-end retail store in the metroplex. During his time there, Johnny was known as being the "go-to guy" when it came to customer service - he is an expert in his field, guiding customers to the right product/service with ease. Johnny was also exposed to the range and training portions of the industry and learned a lot about the way classes are created, managed, and implemented. 

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Meagher brings his knowledge to FirstLine as an Administrator to deal directly with students. His goal is to make your training experience as simple, friendly, and inviting as possible.