Board of Directors

Firearms Instruction Research and Education

Board of Directors

Anthony Ferrazzoli: Anthony Ferrazzoli is a Process Technician in the Automotive Glass Division of PPG Industries, where his responsibilities include training and instruction of hourly personnel regarding new equipment and processes. He began attending firearms courses in earnest in 1996, and was among those who attended the early courses offered by the PFDC in Pittsburgh. Since then he has accumulated nearly 1000 hours of formal firearms training from nationally known schools and instructors, including instructor training at the Marksman's Enterprise handgun and carbine instructor courses and the Stock Brothers 3-Day Instructor Clinic. His detailed training resume can be reviewed here. He is certified by the NRA to instruct Handgun, Rifle, Shotgun and Personal Protection. He is also certified by the State of Utah to instruct Utah's Concealed Firearms Permit course. A strong and consistent supporter of the F.I.R.E. Institute training program, Mr. Ferrazzoli has volunteered his time assisting in the administration of the program, including the design and maintenance of the FIRE Institute website. Following instructor training, he began working directly with primary handgun and carbine instructors as a Safety Officer and a line coach. He has also developed his own Basic Handgun curriculum and program which he has been directing and instructing for two years. An avid experimenter, Mr. Ferrazzoli has created a number of training aids and equipment, most notably a harness for cold-weather training, assembled from several manufacturers existing products. Tony's command of what is available and where to find it makes him one of those people experienced shooters call when they have a question. Tony lives in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

Peter N. Georgiades: Mr. Georgiades is a trial attorney practicing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. He is an experienced teacher and lecturer, having been on the faculty at Carnegie-Mellon University and the National Law Center, George Washington University. He is President of the Pennsylvania Firearms Development Corporation (PFDC), and founded its training program in 1996. He is a graduate of the Gunsite Training Academy Law Enforcement Carbine Instructor Certification Course, Marksman's Enterprise 3 day instructor courses for both carbine and pistol and a number of carbine and pistol instructor seminars. He is certified to instruct by the NRA (rifle, pistol, shotgun and personal protection) and the State of Arizona (CCW Instructor - Certificate No. 8769268), and is a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors (IALEFI). Mr. Georgiades has trained extensively with some of the foremost firearms instructors in the U.S., and has been teaching firearms and firearms tactics courses since 1996. In addition, he is a practicing judoka, having attained the rank of Shodan under the U.S.J.I., has trained in defense with edged and contact-distance weapons, and has passed Contact Defense, LLC "Contact Weapons Defense Instructor" training course. He regularly lectures extensively on the legal aspects of civilian use of firearms, and has authored numerous articles on personal firearms tactics and technique. His detailed training resume can be reviewed here. Mr. Georgiades lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with his wife, Betty.

Charles F. Santose: Lieutenant Colonel, Armor, Army of the United States (Retired). Entering service as an infantryman in 1966, he was commissioned through the infantry officer candidate school and commanded infantry and Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol platoons in Vietnam. He is both Airborne and Ranger qualified and served two tours as an instructor at the Ranger School at Fort Benning, Ga.. After release from active duty he served as a full time, professional operations and training officer supervising reserve training and was directly responsible for the individual and unit training of battalion and brigade sized units. He is a graduate of, and has taught at, the Command and General Staff College, and was assigned as Director of Leadership at the US Army Signal School during Desert Storm. An avid shooter, Colonel Santose has an in-depth understanding of small arms and their direct use under stress in a wide variety of climatic conditions, and the terminal ballistics of firearms projectiles. Since his retirement from military service the colonel has worked as director of human resources in the Cleveland area. His military perspective on firearms training gives another dimension to the FIRE Institute board. Lieutenant Colonel Santose now lives in Broadview Heights, Ohio, with his wife, Colonel Christine A. Wynd (PhD), Army Nurse Corps, USAR.

Giles R. Stock: Phoenix, Arizona Police Sergeant (Retired). Mr. Stock is a nationally known firearms trainer, equipment designer and industry consultant. He began his career with the Phoenix, Arizona Police Department where he served for 20 years. During his tenure with the Phoenix P.D., he supervised the department's firearms training unit and was the training and procurement supervisor for the SWAT unit. Mr. Stock has instructed at the Gunsite Training Academy since 1981, where he is certified as a Range Master for pistol, carbine, rifle, and shotgun. In addition to teaching at Gunsite, he offers courses at various police departments and community colleges, and is the primary instructor for the Hornady Academy. He is also a Simunitions certified instructor and a Surefire certified Low Light Instructor trainer. A 3-time winner of the "Police Olympics" in revolver and a 2-time winner in sniper rifle, Giles Stock is widely recognized as a leading authority on police use of .223 caliber carbines, their deployment and ballistics. In addition to his training activities, he designs and markets equipment used in conjunction with police carbines, including the "Giles Tactical Sling" and the "Single Point Sling," and is frequently consulted by a variety of equipment manufacturers seeking practical advice on how their products might function in "real world" situations. Mr. Stock's unparalleled knowledge of training and equipment is a valuable asset. Mr. Stock now lives in Peoria, Arizona with his wife Karen.