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INSTRUCTORS
KEITH E. CAMPBELL
SCOTT GOSS
JOHN (J.T.) KURTZ
JR.
RONALD G.
CAMPBELL
KEVIN M.
CAMPBELL
BRIAN J.
CAMPBELL
Keith E. Campbell
Owner / President / Chief Instructor
Keith was born and
raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He founded
COMMENCE FIRE
in 2004 with the onset of the Concealed Handgun License Law (House Bill
12) that allowed civilian personnel to obtain permits.

Keith comes from a
long line of law enforcement officers and military personnel (third
generation). He entered the
U.S. Coast Guard
in 1988 and gained valuable experience as a Federal Law Enforcement
Officer and Boat Operator. During his tenure he was fortunate enough to
attend numerous training courses to include Small Arms Instructor.
In 1997 Keith was
Honorably Discharged from active duty and is still a member of the
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
At this same time Keith became an officer with the
Cleveland Police Department.
Keith was initially assigned to the Third District where he worked Basic
Patrol and federally funded units. During this time period he was
involved in a deadly force situation necessitating the use of his
firearm.
In 2003 Keith was
promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Upon his promotion he was reassigned
to the Fourth District. In 2005 he was reassigned to the Justice Center
where he is still currently assigned as an investigator.
He has 12 years
experience as a Firearms Instructor with the
U.S. Coast Guard.
He has taught thousands of people how to use their handguns, shotguns
and rifles SAFELY and EFFECTIVELY. In 2004 he received his Ohio Peace
Officer’s Training Commission (OPOTC) firearms instructor
certification.

Throughout his
military and police career Keith has continued to advance his knowledge
of teaching firearms and he is willing to pass that knowledge and
experience on to you!
Keith specializes
in assisting shooters (especially beginners) with marksmanship skills
and techniques.
He
believes in giving the student all the knowledge and skills they need to
become expert shooters.
He
guarantees that your training will be thorough, practical and well above
the minimum requirements!
Scott Goss
Instructor
Scott
is one of our instructors here at COMMENCE FIRE.
He is a Small Arms Instructor with the
U.S. Coast Guard.

Scott was born in
Ripley Tennessee and was
raised in Bald Knob Arkansas. He entered the
U.S. Coast Guard
3 months after high school in July of 1994. He was
promoted to Gunners Mate in 1996 and attended Small Arms Instructor
School in 1999.
After
11 years active duty Scott was honorably discharged and joined the
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.
He is presently serving with the Port Security Unit 309 at Camp Perry.
In
the civilian world Scott is presently an Armed Guard for
Dunbar
and operates armored vehicles.
John (J.T.) Kurtz Jr.
Instructor
J.T. is also one of our
instructors here at
COMMENCE FIRE. He is
an Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC) certified firearms
instructor. 
J.T. was born in August of
1971 in Cleveland, Ohio to John
and Laura Kurtz. John grew up in Independence and attended all
parochial schools, graduating from Padua Franciscan HS in 1989, went on
to join the Army from 1989 to 1992, participating in Operation Desert
Shield/Storm with Charlie Company, 27th Engineer Battalion
(COMBAT) (AIRBORNE). From 1994 to 1999 he worked for his family's
construction company (Kurtz
Bros. Inc.) operating
heavy equipment and learning how to operate a business. He is currently
employed by the
Independence Police Department
which is a suburb of
Cleveland Ohio. John
was hired in May of 1999 and holds the rank of Sergeant/Field Training
Officer (FTO). John is also a member of the Independence Police Honor
Guard.
J.T. is also the owner and
president of
Law Enforcement Officer’s Shooting
Supply, LLC.
COMMENCE FIRE
highly recommends
LEOSS for all of your firearms needs, no matter what they may be.
Don’t let the name fool you, J.T. sells to civilians also as long as what
you are requesting is not law enforcement specific. J.T.’s moto is “If
we can't offer you a product at the lowest possible price, I will tell
you where you can buy it cheaper!”
Ronald G. Campbell
Range
Safety Officer
Ron is
Keith’s father. He has many years of experience with handling firearms.

He is
a second generation Law Enforcement Officer, and Military Veteran. He
is currently a Deputy Sheriff with the
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s
Office,
since 1994, a retired Sergeant
with the
Cleveland Police
Department, with 29 years of service,
and a retired Master Chief
Petty Officer with the
U.S. Coast Guard Reserve
with 41 ½ years of service. Many of those years with
the U.S. Coast Guard Ron served as a Range Coach.
His
father, Donald, retired as the Chief of Police in upstate New York with
25 years of service. His twin brother, Don, is a retired California
Highway Patrolman with 36 years of service.
Ron
has been an active hunter for more than 50 years, enjoying the time with
family members who share his love of outdoors.
Kevin M. Campbell
Range Safety Officer
Kevin
is Keith’s older brother and is affectionately known as “Tackleberry”
due to his many years of experience with handling all types of
firearms. He is an avid hunter with compound bows, muzzleloaders,
handguns, shotguns and rifles.
Kevin
was also born and raised in Cleveland Ohio and entered the
U.S. Coast Guard
after
high school. Unfortunately he received a medical retirement only after
several years.
Upon
his departure from the
U.S. Coast Guard,
Kevin was
employed by the
Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s
Office. He was a Correctional Officer for 9 months
before becoming a Deputy Sheriff in 1991. He currently holds the rank
of sergeant.
During
his tenure as a Deputy Kevin has been assigned to numerous different
units consisting of, but not limited to the
Detective
Bureau and
K-9 Unit.
Brian J. Campbell
Range Safety Officer
Brian
is Keith’s younger brother.
Although he is not a
Law Enforcement
Officer he has
still been involved with firearms his entire life. He
had no choice with a family full of police officers. Also born and
raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Brian was employed by the
Cleveland Water Department right out of high school. He
is currently a Unit Leader out of the Nottingham Water Treatment
Plant.
When
Keith founded
COMMENCE FIRE, Brian
successfully completed all of the available courses and is currently a
Concealed Handgun License holder. After three years and countless
training sessions Brian has proven himself to be a competent Range
Safety Officer.
Look at
Our Facility or our
Advanced Classes Slide shows! |