About Us
We are excited to announce that AZO Civil Services and Tactical Advantage Guns have been renamed Wolverine Defense Academy.
There has been NO change in ownership - you can still expect the same great training from the same great people! We just felt that Wolverine Defense Academy (also known as WDA) was a more fitting name to encompass all of our services from medical training, to self defense, to the gun store.
WDA brings all of our divisions under one roof. Much like the wolverine, our approach is to not be aggressive, but to be more than capable of defending ourselves and our loved ones if needed.
Our People
Heather
Majority Owner, Chief Self-Defense Instructor, Rangemaster Advanced Instructor, MCRGO Advanced Instructor
Heather, co-owner of Wolverine Defense Academy & Tactical Advantage Guns (Gun store/FFL Dealer), grew up hunting with her father, Guy. This experience, combined with her being a CPL Holder and Hunter Safety Instructor, led to her desire to start the company with husband Brent. While still in college, Heather became a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and used this experience to become our Chief Self-Defense Instructor. She also is a certified instructor in Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearm Safety, and Personal Protection (Both inside and outside the home), & an Advanced Instructor for MCRGO. She also sits on the Education Committee for MCRGO.
In addition to managing and running a training company and gun store, she also teaches High School Bio-Medical Science and A.P. Chemistry. Heather also runs a Women’s Only Shooting Group called “A Girl and A Gun” with Angel. If she’s not teaching, running a class, or working with the ‘Ladies’ Heather can be found behind the counter assisting customers at the gun store or spending time with her family.
Brent
Co-owner, Chief Firearms Instructor, NRA Training Counselor, Rangemaster Advanced Instructor, MCRGO Advanced Instructor, Chief CPR Instructor
Brent is the Co-owner of Wolverine Defense Academy & Tactical Advantage Guns (Gun Store/FFL Dealer). In 2009 Brent attended the United State Border Patrol Academy where he learned about the combative application of the pistol, Rifle, & Shotgun in self-defense. After returning from the academy Brent and Heather decided to start a business where they could bring life-saving training to law abiding citizens.
Currently, Brent is an NRA Training Counselor and Instructor in the disciplines of pistol, rifle, shotgun, home firearm safety, and personal protection (both inside and outside the home). He is also Rangemaster Advanced Pistol Instructor certified. He is also the Chief Firearms Instructor and in charge of our Advanced Firearms Classes.
A proud lifetime member of the NRA and MCRGO, Brent also stays active in helping to maintain the citizen’s right to self-defense. Brent is also an active American Heart Association instructor for BLS and Heartsaver CPR and First Aid as well as an ECSI Instructor for Lay Rescuer 1st Aid and CPR/AED.
When he isn’t busy with the store or teaching, Brent can be found as a Living Historian for World War II and the American Civil War. He also enjoys spending time hunting, scuba diving, shooting competitively, and being with his family.
Rick
Instructor
Rick has always enjoyed (Bow, Shotgun, Crossbow) hunting and clay pigeon shooting since a fairly early age.
Being Brent’s father, he has worked with Wolverine Defense Academy since its inception in 2010. He thought when he retired from over 35 years in the sheet metal industry he would have all the free time in the world, but he soon found out he would be busier than ever. As one of our lead CPR/AED Instructors, Rick brings over 30 years of experience in that discipline alone.
Upon Brent’s return from the Border Patrol, Rick started shooting handguns with him and instantly became hooked. Shortly thereafter Rick became Instructor Certified in the disciplines of Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Home Firearms Safety, and Personal Protection (Both in the home and outside the home).
When he’s not busy with teaching or helping in the store on occasion, Rick enjoys Fishing, Hunting, Camping and spending time with his family.
Guy
Instructor
Guy cannot remember a time when he didn’t have a gun in his hand growing up. As part of a family active in shooting sports, mainly hunting, he was able to enjoy the firearms from a young age. He has had a Michigan CPL since 2001 when the law changed to a “shall-issue” standard, and firmly believes those with the ability to carry, should!
Certified through the NRA and MCRGO, Guy actively instructs in the disciplines of pistol, rifle, shotgun, home firearm safety, and personal protection (both inside and outside the home). He is a certified re-loader and spends much of his time reloading for training courses and recreational shooting.
When he isn’t instructing, or reloading, he can be found farming his 200-acre family farm in Northern Michigan & spending quality time with his wife and other family.
Chad
Instructor
Chad began his shooting early in life, growing up in a family that incorporated guns for hunting and protection. When Chad found Brent and Heather and their store back in 2015, it was a natural fit for him to become an instructor. Chad is certified as an NRA Range Safety Officer, NRA Instructor, MCRGO Instructor and plans on becoming a Rangemaster Instructor soon.
When Chad isn’t working the retail side of the business or teaching a class, he works in the insulation industry and enjoys his time off smoking cigars and spending time with friends and family!
Casey
Retail Manager
Casey joined our staff in 2022 and has quickly become a staple of WDA when you come visit us! He has spent many years working in the retail business and really knows how to connect with each and every customer and build relationships with them while sharing his vast knowledge about firearms and ammunition.
Casey aspires to become a firearms instructor one day in addition to his role in the retail store!