VETERANS SPORTSMENS ASSOCIATION
Veterans Serving Veterans
VETERANS SPORTSMENS ASSOCIATION
Meet Our Instructors
NOEL DILLON
Noel Dillon has worked in the Nuclear Security field for more than 28 years. Since founding the Veterans Sportsmens Association (VSA) in 2016, Noel has consistently brought a passion and dedication to this team and its support for local Veterans.
Noel spent over twenty (20) years in the USAF including multiple combat tours and deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and numerous other locations in the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Central and South America. During his military service he specialized in Force Protection, Counter-Terrorism, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Logistics, and Intelligence.
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In addition, Noel served as a Survey Team Leader and Collapse Structure Rescue Team Leader for 12 years on the NY CERF-P and Region 2 HRF. In the civilian sector he served as a Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Fire Brigade Member, Confined Space Rescue Technician, Indian Point Hazmat Technician and Site EMT. He also Volunteered with the Arlington Fire Department as a Fire Fighter and EMT for more than 10 years, and has been a member of the Dutchess County Hazmat Team for more than 20 years.
As the President of the VSA and Lead Instructor, Noel has built a Cadre of exceptional instructors and established the VSA as a registered 501c3 Veterans based non-profit in the Hudson Valley area of NY. He is currently an NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and a NRA Instructor certified to teach CCW, Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Defensive Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and Personal Protection Outside the Home. He is also a Certified UTAH BCI Instructor, ALERRT Active Shooter Instructor, and a Law Enforcement Simunitions Instructor.
Noel has three Masters Degrees from John Jay College in Public Administration, Protection Management, and Emergency Management
STEVEN MATTES
Steve Mattes is a Marine Corps Veteran who served as Military Police in the Corrections Field. This experience instilled a constant state of mind of security and awareness. A nearly life time practitioner of martial arts which led to the exploration of many disciplines. In 2013 he was awarded Roku (6th) Dan in Bujinkan Budo Taijutsu (Ninjutsu) and he is currently exploring the art of Jeet Kune Do to further his understanding of the martial way.
Steve is an NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and a NRA instructor certified to teach Home Firearm Safety, Basic Pistol, Basic Rifle, Basic Shotgun, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home. He is constantly participating in his own training to further his knowledge and understanding of all aspects of self-protection as well as the protection of others.
TIMOTHY ROBERTS
Tim Roberts served 23 Years in the US Military, in both the Air Force Security Forces and in the Army as a Forward Observer. His duties included Nuclear missile security, Naval Brig Security, Emergency Services Team, anti terrorism, interrogation procedures, SWAT operations and tactics, providing Presidential and Vice Presidential protection, as well as Foreign Dignitary protection. He currently works in Nuclear Security and is certified as an NRA firearms instructor as a Chief Range Safety Officer, and Shotgun Instructor.
JOHN WASIKOWITZ
John Wasikowitz entered US Navy in May of 1969 at the Recruit Training Command Great Lakes IL. During Boot camp he qualified with Rifle and became familiarized with pistols. In 1971 he qualified with .38 pistol for the TAD Shore Patrol assignment. After release from active duty April 1973 he joined the Active Reserves. There he received the Navy Pistol Expert Medal after scoring expert 3 years in a row ( Now sailors only have to get the score once). John became a Navy instructor in 1973 and conducted many various classes pertaining to General Military Training, Safety, First aid, Ship board And Aircraft Fire Fighting. John retired from the Navy as a Chief Petty Officer ABE-C E-7. In 1986 he took the NRA rifle instructor course and worked with BSA and 4H groups. He also gave Firearms safety instruction to his volunteer ambulance corp. John has been a firearms instructor for more than 34 years.
CARLOS PRINCE
Carlos Prince is a SMsgt. Retired, USAF,
and the Chairman of the Hudson Valley Veterans Alliance. Carlos Prince was born in Panama and currently resides in Hopewell Junction, NY. He honorably served 31 years in the United States Air Force, attached to the 514th Civil Engineer Squadron.
Today Carlos runs his own HVAC business called Pana Breeze, is working on his A.A. in Political Science, and sits on NYS Senator (41st Dist.) Sue Serino's Veteran Advisory Committee. Carlos joined the VSA as a Trustee, and is now a NRA certified firearms instructor in Pistol, Rifle, and Shotgun.
FRANK KOLARIK
Frank Kolarik is a combat veteran of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division where he served as an Airborne Infantry squad leader. Before completing his enlistment, Frank was introduced to law enforcement as a special investigator for the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
Upon completing his tour of duty, Frank went on to a distinguished career as a police officer in Westchester County, NY, where he served as a patrolman, a member of his department’s emergency services and scuba units, and finally as a detective. Frank was also a certified police instructor and has taught at numerous police academies throughout New York State.
Frank has earned two black belts in the martial arts and is an FBI Certified Police Defensive Tactics Instructor. Upon his retirement, Frank continued teaching criminal justice at both the high school and college level. Frank is active with the VSA and the American Legion, is an NRA certified firearms instructor, and teaches the New York State Security Guard certification course.
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ARIÂ MOSKOWITZ
Ari Moskowitz is a retired Police Sergeant, with 29 years of full time service. During his tenure, he served as the Firearms Instructor, TASER Instructor and General Topics
Instructor for his department. He is presently working as a Security Responder at Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant, as well as being a Part-Time Firearms Instructor for General
Dynamics.
Ari is also a retired U.S. Army (MP) Captain, with extensive experience in large scale training operations and planning. His last command assignment was as a Drill
Sergeant Company Commander, leading him to be activated in 2004 to be a part of a select group of 127 Military Advisors to the Iraqi Army, where he specialized in G-1 and
G-2 training for Iraqi Command Staff Officers. Based on his firearms and training experience, he was also tasked to help train and supervise Iraqi soldiers in pistol and rifle courses that prepared them for their service in the Iraqi Army. His Police Instructor certifications include: Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, TASER Instructor, Pepper Spray Instructor and Emergency Vehicle Operator Instructor and General Topics Instructor.
Ari has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Ari is a licensed New York State Private Investigator and was a member of the Orange County Emergency Management Team.
MELISSA BRADY
Melissa Brady is an active member of the Veterans Sportsmens Association. She is one of our female instructors who takes pride in educating people who want to learn to shoot and the safety aspect involved. Melissa has been in firearms industry for close to 7 years going through training and earning certifications to further her knowledge on the field.
Some of Melissa's her credentials include Basic instructor training, NRA Basic Pistol, NRA Instructor, NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Basic Shotgun, NRA Shotgun Instructor, and Basic Rifle. For the past few years she has worked in the security world training and working spos'n detection dogs as well as her full time job is a nuclear security officer.
Melissa volunteers her time and training to rescue dogs, train and donate them to police departments for working K9s and to veterans for companion/emotional support dogs.
Melissa believes that it is important to train and the skills to protect yourself, your family and people around you.
BRIAN PFLEGER
Brian Pfleger enlisted in the Air National Guard in 2012 attached to the 106th Rescue Wing. He continues to serve as avionics Guidance and Control Specialist as a Staff Sergeant, and was deployed in 2018 to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. His military experience, as well as strong passion and knowledge of firearms has been recognized by the VSA to become one of our many instructors, as well as our recording secretary.
PAT DAVOLI
Patrick Davoli has been an Armed Nuclear Security Officer now for 20+ years with many responsibilities to include being proficient with a handgun, shotgun, and rifle. While serving in the United States Army in a MP Combat Support Unit as a Military Policemen for 12 years in that time moved up the chain of command to Sergeant First Class and became one of my units’ firearms instructors and range safety officers, successfully attended the Mountain Leaders Close Combat Certificate Course and have been deployed to Iraq. I have been and avid hunter and shooter for 28 years. I have acquired the NRA Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Certifications for Handgun, Shotgun, and Patrol Rifle and NRA Civilian instructors Certifications for NRA Home Firearm Safety, NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Basics of Pistol Course, NRA Instructor Personal Protection In The Home Course, Colt and Bushmaster Carbine Armorer. I have continued my own firearms training by attending numerous schools, MDTS Carbine Course with Chris Fry, Stretz Tactical Carbine Course with Ken Stretz and Costa Ludus Handgun Elements I and II, Carbine Elements I and II, with Chris Costa.
ROB FERGUSON
"I believe in safety and constant training! We train together and we learn together. Leave your ego in the parking lot"
18 YEARS AND CURRENT ACTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, GLOCK ARMORER, FIELD TRAINING OFFICER
NYS DCJS CERTIFIEDÂ DEPARTMENT & POLICE ACADEMY FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR
NRA CERTIFIED CHIEF RANGE INSTRUCTOR
NRA CERTIFIED BASIC PISTOL INSTRUCTOR
NYS CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR DEVELOPMENT SCHOOL /Â LAW ENFORCEMENT GENERAL TOPICS INSTRUCTOR
ACTIVE MEMBER OF VSA
NRA BASIC INSTRUCTOR TRAINING
NYS DCJS HANDGUN, SHOTGUN AND PATROL RIFLE INSTRUCTOR
PATROL RIFLE TRAINED AND SWAT CROSS TRAINED
JASON BURNS
Jason Burns is a current Law Enforcement Officer, with more than 12 years of experience. Prior to his LE career, Jason was a member of the United States Navy, from 1995 - 1999 and again from 2001-2003, serving as Gunnersmate 2nd Class Petty Officer, with multiple deployments to the Middle East. Jason is currently a certified Code4Concepts defensive tactics instructor, NRA shotgun instructor, and Range Safety Officer.
JOE FISHER
Joseph Fisher is a NYS, Department of Defense and United States Air Force Certified Instructor. He is a 12 year veteran of the Air National Guard and a 25 year veteran of the New York City Police Department. He currently owns and operates his own company, Cop Prop Rentals of NY, a film and television prop supply firm specializing in police equipment and prop weapons. He currently works as a Prop Master, Consultant, Technical Advisor, Actor and Theatrical Weapons Wrangler in the entertainment industry. Due to his vast background, experiences and expertise in this field, Fisher has been featured as a commentator and subject matter expert by every major news and television network here in the US and globally.
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As a member of the 105th Airlift Wing of the NYS ANG, TSgt Fisher spent 12 years teaching for the United States Air Force as a 3E9X1. There he served as a CBRN Instructor, Emergency Manager, CBRN Technician, ProBoard Certified HazMat Technician and obtained a degree from the Community College of the Air Force in Emergency Management. While serving at the 105th Airlift Wing, TSgt Fisher was also a Cadre member of the newly formed NYS CERF(P) Taskforce, a multi-branch WMD Response Team created to respond to Domestic Incidents involving the use of Chemical, Biological or Nuclear Weapons.
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Fisher began teaching for the NYPD in 1998 at the Management Training Unit, a Police Academy unit providing in-service training to Patrol Supervisors and Leadership in Tactics, Counter-Terrorism and Criminal Procedure Law. During his 25 year career with the NYPD he worked as a patrol officer, crime prevention officer, instructor and detective and was recognized and awarded on several occasions for his contributions to the Department and to the public.
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Joseph Fisher joined the VSA as a Founding Member in 2020 and has made a few contributions to this organization including the new logo, coin designs and digitalizing our membership application process. He brings his knowledge, experience and passion for teaching to the VSA as an instructor to help his fellow veterans in all they do.
JOHN REIFENBERGER
John Reifenberger serve the United States Navy as an aviation electronic technician aboard the USS coral sea.
John volunteers his time as a firearms instructor with the Boy Scouts of America greater New York council shooting sports committee.
John is currently certified as an NRA instructor in, NRA basic pistol, NRA basic shotgun, NRA basic rifle, NRA muzzle loading rifle and NRA metallic cartridge reloading. He is also a Chief Range Safety Officer and NRA Training Counselor (TC).
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JAY RUSNOCK
Jay Rusnock
Jay has dedicated a lifetime to the safe and responsible use of firearms.
Recently retired from a 25 year career with the National Rifle Association. Previously
serving in Emergency Services, LE, Corrections, private security fields and the NY
Guard.
His experience includes nationally recognized firearm academies and he holds NRA
Instructor certifications in: Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Reloading, Refuse to be a Victim,
CCW, Personal Protection in the Home, Home Firearm Safety, and Chief Range Safety
Officer.
SCOTT AND JACKIE EMSLIE
Scott and Jackie Emslie are from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Together, they have volunteered with the Mid-Hudson Friends of the NRA committee since its inception in 1993, serving in numerous roles and positions throughout that time. Over the years, they have also attended and assisted at countless other Friends of NRA banquets all over the upper New York state area. Jackie and Scott Emslie are just the embodiment of the ultimate Friends of NRA volunteers.
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Jackie and Scott Emslie are both founding members of the Veterans Sportsmens Association (VSA) and they both serve actively on the VSA Board of Directors.
JOHN-DAVID WELLMAN
J-D began his journey in shooting sports and with firearms while serving as a BSA leader. Seeking to benefit his pack and then troop, he sought out training and became NRA certified as a Rifle and Shotgun instructor, as well as a Range Safety Officer (and, now a Chief Range Officer) in order to teach, train, and supervise scouts.  He has since spent many years working with scouts, including shooting sports merit badges, and running ranges at BSA camps and events.  He continues to serve scouting as an advisor and coach of a BSA Shooting Sports Venture Crew (and American Legion sponsored) Junior Shooting Sports 3-position precision rifle team.  Beyond this work, J-D continues his own training, and continues to help to train youth and adults across a variety of venues.
VETERANS SPORTSMENS ASSOCIATION
PO BOX 2802
POUGHKEEPSIE NY 12603
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1 (845) 599-1911
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