Erik Schmidt is a former US Marine and a veteran of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He served as a Federal Narcotics Detection K9 Officer for three years before becoming a local policeman in the Seattle area from 1999 to 2007. While serving in his law enforcement capacity his specialties included:

  • Narcotic Detector Dog Handler
  • Police Mountain Bike
  • Firearms Instructor (Pistol, Submachine Gun, Patrol Rifle)
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor
  • Undercover Narcotics Interdiction (Operation Jetway)
  • Civil Disturbance Cadre (Deployed during the WTO, N30 and Mardi Gras 2001 riots)

Erik is currently a Special Deputy for the US Marshal Service.

Erik operates in the private sector providing uniformed and plainclothes protection details for foreign and domestic dignitaries, entertainment figures, fortune 100 clientele, Federal Judges, and high-value asset protection transports. As the Raider Tactical compliance manager, he assists with training events and executive/celebrity protection details. He is a firearms instructor, a personal safety consultant, executive protection specialist, defensive tactics/ Combatives instructor through his LLC; Pathfinder Combatives in partnership with Raider Tactical and Bellevue Gun Club. Currently, a 5th degree black belt; Erik was inducted into the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame in October 2017.

Erik has been trained and certified to operate as part of an Anti-Piracy Security team through the International Maritime Security Network for anti-piracy/ counter-terror operations in East Africa. Holds a Maritime Captain License (OUPV/ Master 100 Ton) providing Anti-Terror/ Force Protection for the US Navy aboard an armed civilian patrol boat.  And is also a certified tactical tracker through the Tactical Tracking Operations School. (Rural Law Enforcement Academy, 2014)

Erik has a long term, proven commitment to personal safety, and takes great enjoyment in empowering others to do the same. His students and student co-workers find him to be a dynamic personality that can inject fun into a learning environment while maintaining focus toward skill development