Headquartered in Katy, Texas

---

Karl Schmidt Founder and Owner.  

Bringing 25+ years of experience and knowledge starting from the U.S. Marine Corps.  Serving as a Force Reconnaissance Marine with 3rd Force Reconnaissance Company. Two combat deployments to Iraq receiving decorations with Valor on both tours. Earning his Black Belt Instructor Trainer rating Karl was also responsible for training Marines in the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program.

With honor Karl served as an Instructor for the Federal Air Marshals.  Being the first group of instructors hired after 9/11 he holds the distinction of Plank holder for Defensive Tactics, Fitness and Firearms Instructor.

Karl transitioned to overseas operations as a security contractor in support of Special Operations and to train Embassy Security Forces in high threat locations. 

As a civilian Mixed Martial Arts captured his attention. He trained and competed professionally in Mixed Martial Arts, winning three titles at the Welterweight division. Karl's most recent efforts include a seven year relocation to the Middle East, training allied service members and serving as an Operational Security Business Partner for a local company. 

Karl returned to the U.S. in December of 2020 to initiate development of Gunner Defense. His mission is to instill upon patriots of this great nation the mindset and skills to protect one's self, loved ones and all law abiding citizens.

Texas DPS

LTC Instructor

Level III Private Security Instructor

NRA Certifications include:

NRA Rifle Instructor

NRA Pistol Instructor

NRA Range Safety Officer

NRA Personal Protection Inside the Home Instructor

NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Instructor

Additional Instructor Certifications:

American Heart Association

American Red Cross

American Trauma Event Management

Gino builds on his over 30 years of experience in the tactical realm as an instructor and operator. He is a former United States Marine and deputy sheriff from New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding areas. Gino has worked for the Department of State and Department of Defense in Kosovo, Iraq, Colombia and the Philippines instructing police officers and security personnel. 

In addition, Gino has spent over 12 years providing high and low profile mobile personal security for U.S. Government personnel in high threat and remote areas. Gino supported the strategic and tactical procedures related to worldwide protective support of high-risk intelligence collection operations and was responsible for coordination, planning, and execution of intelligence operations.  As an accomplished firearms and tactical instructor, he was often employed to organize, train, and lead large indigenous guard forces. In the unarmed self-defense arena Gino is a Monadnok Instructor and has trained and competed in Mixed Martial Arts. Currently he holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jujitsu. 

John Martin is a retired Master Sergeant from the US Army 25+ years.  He started his career in the 82nd Airborne then served 20+ years in the Army Special Forces as a distinguished 18D Medic. John deployed operational through the world as required, until the Army had him return to Ft. Bragg to serve as an instructor at the Joint Special Operations Medical Training Company. As an 18D trainer John served and trained with ODA teams, 10th SF Group, Ranger battalion, Navy Seals and the infamous 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR). John retried in 2019 and continues to provide leadership skills and knowledge that he has developed over the past 25 years through his own company as a consultant and adviser.

Military Medical Certifications:

• USSF Medical/Trauma Triage Instructor
• Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support
• US Spec Ops Command Emergency
•  Medical Service Paramedic
•  Advanced Tactical Practitioner
• Combat Trauma Management Course Instructor
• Tactical Combat Casualty Course Instructor

Civilian Medical Certification:

• EMT Basic
• Paramedic
• ACLS/BLS Instructor
• PALS Instructor
• Pediatric Education Prehospital Professional Instructor
• Stop the Bleed Instructor

Many of Gunner Defense cadre of Instructors continue to work domestically and overseas on real-time operations. Lessons learned and current best practices are shared and integrate into our training.  Gunner Defense is dynamic and never static just as the environment we live in.