Meet Your Instructors

Andrew Crout-Hamel - Course Director

Jumps Made: 7000
Time In Sport: 23 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF, Static Line, Pro, S&TA, Senior Rigger

Professional Background:
- Retired after 20 years of active duty from Naval Special Warfare (SEAL Team).
- 5 1/2 Years Navy Parachute Team (Leap Frogs).
- 4 Years Leading Chief for the US Navy Pre-Meditated Personnel Parachuting (P3 Program) at the Naval Special Warfare Freefall School.
- Represented U.S. Navy as a freefall instructor for President George Bush.

Andy Peckett - Lead Instructor

Jumps Made: 10,000
Time In Sport: 25 Years
Ratings: AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Pro

 

Professional Background:

- Retired Royal Marines Commando, United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSP).
- Former National Competitor and Record Holder.
- 1993 Skydiver of the Year.
- 1990 Instructor of the Year.

Tactical Air Operations, Inc.

Home of the US Navy Static Line and Freefall School

13531 Otay Lakes Road

Jamul, CA 91935

1-800-871-4136

  Military Point of Contact LNO:  David.Fisher@navsoc.socom.mil

(619) 764-0669

Cass Seymore - Instructor/Dropzone Control Officer (DZO)

Jumps Made: 12,000
Time In Sport: 26 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Master Training Specialist, FAA Master Rigger, FAA Designated Parachute Rigger Examiner

 

Professional Background:
- Retired as an E-8 after 26 years of active duty with the US Air Force Combat Control Team (CCT)/Special Tactics.
- Designed and implemented freefall training missions for Special Operations Forces (SOF) Operators.

- Parachute Course Director at the US Air Force Academy for 14 years.

- Superintendent 34th Operations group/parachuting.

Stephen Taylor - Instructor

Jumps Made: 9,000
Time In Sport: 31 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Master Training Specialist, Military Static Line Instructor/Examiner, Military Freefall Instructor/Examiner, Military Oxygen Technician/Jumpmaster rated to 33,000 Ft.

 

Professional Background:
- Served 30 years with the British Military including:  Army, Royal Air Forces and Royal Marine Commandos.
- Retired 2003 with the rank of Flight Sergeant (E-8).                                                                                                    

- National and World Level competitor.

- 16 years military parachute instructor with extensive experience in Special Operations Forces (SOF) air operations including live drops during Middle East conflict.

- Highest altitude jump made @ 33,000 Ft.

- Lowest altitude jump made @ 500 Ft.                                                                                                                                                    

George Andrew Hale - Instructor

Jumps Made: 5100 +
Time In Sport: 26 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF Instructor, MFF Instructor #397, Tandem, MFF Jump Master, US Air Force Master Parachutist, US Air Force Dive Supervisor

 

Professional Background:
- Retired after 26 years of service in the US Air Force Combat Control Team (CCT)/Special Tactics.                                                          

- Retired 2008 with the rank of Master Sergeant (E-7).                                                                                                   

- 4 Years US Army Military Freefall Instructor.                                                                                                                        

- US Air Force Personnel Parachute Program Manager for US Air Force Academy.

Evan Chang - Instructor

Jumps Made: 4000 +
Time In Sport: 26 Years
Ratings: Master Training Specialist, Military Static Line Instructor, MFF Instructor # 265, Military Tandem Instructor, Static Line/MFF Jump Master, Static Line Square I, AFF Instructor 1993, Military Oxygen Technician/Jumpmaster qualified to 25,000 Ft., USPA

 

Professional Background:
- Retired after 24 years of service from the US Marine Corps (Recon) with the rank of E-8.                                                             

- Parachute Safety Officer for 3rd Force Recon.                                                                                                   

- Parachute Safety Officer for all airborne ops including HAHO/HALO from 25,000 Ft.   

- Instructor at Military Freefall School in Yuma, AZ.

- Member of Military Freefall Committee at Yuma as guest instructor.

- U.S.M.C. special missions branch chief instructor.

Mark Bouska - Instructor

Jumps Made: 1500 +
Time In Sport: 20 Years
Ratings: Coach/AFF, Master Training Specialist, Military Static Line Jumpmaster, Freefall Jumpmaster, MFF Instructor

 

Professional Background:
- Retired US Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician with 20 years of military parachuting experience.

- Supervisor at EOD Mobile Unit (EOD MU) Three Paraloft.

- Instructor at the US Army Military Freefall School.

- Head of Air Operations Department at the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training and Evaluation Unit One (EODTEU).

 

 

Jim Wallace - Instructor

Jumps Made: 20,000 +
Time In Sport: 38 Years
Ratings: Static Line Instructor, AFF Jumpmaster/Instructor, Tandem Instructor, S&TA, Instructor/Examiner, Senior Rigger

 

Professional Background:
- Made 1st jump in 1970.

- 2 time US Skydiving champion.

- 1 time World champion.

- 8 time World Record Holder (Formation Skydiving).

- Feature movie (skydiving stunts).

 

 

Kai Wolf - Instructor

Jumps Made: 17,300
Time In Sport: 29 Years
Ratings: AFF, Senior Rigger

 

Professional Background:
- 4 time German National Champion 4 and 8 Way Formation Skydiving (Competed at 5 World Meets).

- 1 time US Champion 10 Way Formation Skydiving.

John Leming - Instructor

Jumps Made: 14,000
Time In Sport: 24 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF Instructor, Static Line, Senior Rigger

 

Professional Background:
- 4 time World Meet Gold Medalist.

- 4 time World Cup Gold Medalist.

- Member of US Skydiving Team for 5 years.

- Formation Skydiving World Champion.

Michael Ortiz - Instructor

Jumps Made: 15,000
Time In Sport: 18 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF Instructor, Static Line Instructor, Coach, FAA Senior Rigger

 

Professional Background:

- Former National Director US Parachute Association (USPA).

- National Competitor and Champion.

- Member of Performance Designs parachute display team.

- Owned and operated commercial freefall school.

- Trained as a sports coach and mentor.

- World Record Holder.

- Test parachutist and manufacturers’ approved trainer/equipment specialist.

Greg Lund - Instructor

Jumps Made: 10,000
Time In Sport: 13 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Pro, Coach

 

Professional Background:

- 2 time World Record Holder (Formation Skydiving).

- Member of team to break world record for largest freefall formation.

- Managed commercial freefall school.

- National competitor.

Barry Holubeck - Instructor

Jumps Made: 9,800
Time In Sport: 13 Years
Ratings: AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Pro, Rigger, Wingsuit Instructor

 

Professional Background:

- A total of 13 years combined as a skydiving instructor and as a Wingsuit skydiving instructor.

Robert Brockman - Instructor

Jumps Made: 9,500
Time In Sport: 12 Years
Ratings: AFF, Static Line, Tandem, Coach

 

Professional Background:

- Gold Medalist 2005 Nationals.

- Icarus Factory Team member.

- World Team 2004.

Patrick Dassi - Instructor

Jumps Made: 9,500 +
Time In Sport: 12 Years
Ratings: AFF Instructor, AFF Examiner, Static Line Instructor, USPA Pro Rating Tandem Instructor, Tandem Course Director, Tandem Examiner, Coach, Coach Course Director, USPA S&TA

 

Professional Background:

- Skydiving instructor for over 9 years.

Nick Boyd - Instructor

Jumps Made: 6,000 
Time In Sport: 10 Years
Ratings: USPA, AFF Instructor, Static Line Instructor, Tandem Instructor, Pro, FAA Private Pilot

 

Professional Background:

- Gold and Bronze Medals from Pro Swoop Tour Canopy Cup.

- US Nationals Competitor in Freefly and Canopy Piloting.

- Oregon State Record for Freefly Formation.

- Skydiving since 27 December 1998.

Current as of:

4 June 2009, Thursday