Mike seeklander biography
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He holds secondary MOS’s of Combat Engineer and Primary Marksmanship Instructor.
Mike is the recipient of numerous awards and honors in the law enforcement community and as a semi-professional shooter.
Shooting accomplishments are as follows:
- 2019 IDPA World Champion
- 2018 IDPA National Champion
- 2013 and 2014 IPDA BUG (Back up Gun) National Champion
- 2011 Steel Challenge World Champion (production division).
- 2007 European Championships (2nd overall)
- USPSA National Championships (top 5 overall numerous times)
- Area Championship wins: Area 7, Area 4, Area 1 (USPSA)
- State Championship wins (multiple times in some states): Oklahoma (USPSA and IDPA), Badlands Regional (IDPA), Tennessee (USPSA), Arkansas (IDPA and USPSA), South Carolina (USPSA), Georgia (USPSA), Texas Limited (USPSA), New Jersey (USPSA)
Having competed in the shooting sports nationally, Mike adds to this experience with more than 15 years of experience in various martial arts holding multiple ranks including a Black Belt in Okinawan Freestyle Karate and currently trains in Brazilian JiuJitsu under Christian Derr.
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I am a federally certified instructor, curriculum developer, and adjunct instructor and have extensive experience teaching firearms, combatives, tactics, and control tactics. I am currently ranked as a grandmaster (the highest rank obtainable) by the United States Practical Shooting Association.
Delta Defense Welcomes Renowned Firearms Instructor Mike Seeklander as Director of Education & Training
WEST BEND, Wis., Oct.
07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Delta Defense is proud to announce the addition of Mike Seeklander, one of the nation’s most respected firearms trainers and competitive shooters, as its new Director of Education & Training.
Seeklander brings decades of expertise as a Marine Corps veteran, law enforcement officer, federal instructor, author and world champion competitive shooter.
A combat veteran of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps as an Intelligence Specialist and Marksmanship Instructor with top-secret clearance before transitioning to law enforcement roles with the Knox County Sheriff’s Department and Knoxville Police Department.
He later served in federal training leadership positions, including Senior Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) and Branch Chief/Lead Instructor for the Federal Air Marshal Service, TSA, and ICE.
He also held the role of Chief Operating Officer and Director of Training at the U.S. Shooting Academy.
Most recently, Seeklander has operated Shooting-Performance LLC and the American Warrior Society, where he teaches defensive tactics, firearms performance, and instructor development. Prior to receiving my honorable discharge in 2000, I was attached to a federal multi-agency task force investigating large-scale international drug trafficking.
Mike is a highly sought after tactical and competitive trainer and a high-level performer on the competition handgun circuit. He is also the co-host of the Outdoor Channel’s acclaimed program The Best Defense, and the author of several instructional books and training programs.
Beyond firearms, Seeklander has over 15 years of martial arts experience, holding a black belt in Okinawan freestyle karate and training extensively in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Most people know me as a nationally ranked competitor on the practical handgun competition circuit, but fail to realize that I have extensive formal training and experience in the military and law enforcement, as an operational officer/Marine as well as in all phases of training development.
I actually began my competitive shooting training to increase my skill level to better prepare myself for the tactical environment I found myself in.
Mike is also the co-host of The Best Defense, the Outdoor channels leading firearm instructional show.
Previously, mike was Chief Operating Officer, Director of Training and a Senior Instructor at the U.S. Shooting Academy in Tulsa, Ok. He was directly responsible for the development of all U.S.S.A. My background and history is below if you care to read it.
In this new role, he will lead Delta Defense’s Education & Training team, guiding the evolution of the USCCA member education curriculum and the growth of its certified instructor network – reinforcing why the USCCA delivers the most comprehensive self-defense training in the industry.
“We’re excited to welcome Mike Seeklander to the Delta Defense family,” said Jay Gauthier, Chief Revenue Officer of Delta Defense.
After getting my feet wet I found myself training to win national competitions, while analyzing and applying those performance rules to key areas of a performance. Like really love it. In addition to developing curriculum for federal agencies, I am a published author with two books and one DVD on the market, and will soon be releasing a third.
Previously I was the President, C.O.O., and the Director of Training at the United States Shooting Academy.
My background and history is below if you care to read it. Currently a nationally ranked competitor on the practical handgun competition circuit, Seeklander has authored/produced instructional books, DVD’s and has developed hundreds of lesson plans specifically related to basic and advanced firearms training.
As a local law enforcement officer with the Knox County Sherriff’s Department as well as the Knoxville Police Department mike worked in corrections as well as patrol and with the Organized Crime division.
In 1990 Mike joined the United States Marine Corps and was trained as an Intelligence Specialist with Top Secret clearance.
Mike is a combat veteran of Desert Storm/Shield (Gulf war 1). Currently, a nationally ranked competitor on the practical handgun competition circuit, Seeklander has authored/produced instructional books, DVD’s and has developed hundreds of lesson plans specifically related to basic and advanced firearms training.
As a local law enforcement officer with the Knox County Sherriff’s Department as well as the Knoxville Police Department mike worked in corrections as well as patrol and with the Organized Crime division.
In 1990 Mike joined the United States Marine Corps and was trained as an Intelligence Specialist with Top Secret clearance.
(B.U.G.) gun nationals and a world championship (Steel Challenge production division). His mindset and values align closely with Delta Defense’s mission to support responsibly armed Americans.
As Director of Education & Training, Seeklander will play a pivotal role in bringing innovation, excellence and world-class instruction to the USCCA training ecosystem.
Michael McGonigle
Director of Public Relations
[email protected]
808-663-4774
Maybe you are looking for all the cool stuff about me…like stuff I might brag about.
training programs.
Prior to that as an employee of the Federal Government, Mike has served as the Branch Chief and Lead Instructor for the Firearms division with the Federal Air Marshal Service as well as a Senior Instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC).
He has extensive formal training and experience in all phases of military and law enforcement training.
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Seeklander describes himself as a driven man who cannot imagine waking up and being stagnant. From 1995-98, I was employed by the Knox County (TN) Sheriffs Departments Corrections division and was a member of its highly trained Special Operations Response Team.
I have chaired numerous curriculum development conferences.