STAFF:
Phillip Rapagna (Founder and Chief Instructor)
Phillip is an Army and Marine Corps veteran. He is a 38-year+ Southern California Law enforcement veteran. He has a wealth of real-world and instructional experience, and has spent his entire career working streets and training other officers. His experience includes assignements to his department’s tactical team, riot control team, various training units, and wilderness search & rescue.
Phillip has worked publicly and privately as a security and dignitary protective specialist. He has extensive experience working with Federal, Military, State, and local agencies, including working directly on US Presidential , California Gubernatorial, US State Department protective details, and National Conventions. In the private sector, he has done extensive personal security and event details in the entertainment industries, working for numerous A-List actors and music personalities.
Phillip is an FBI, FLETC, and NRA Firearms Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor, and Fitness Instructor. He is also Heckler and Koch Factory Master Submachinegun and shotgun instructor. Phillip is a nationally recognized expert on SWAT operations and training, and a California certified court expert witness on firearms and police use of force. Phillip is also a USMC MOUT (urban warfare) instructor and USMC HRST (Rope Master) instructor.
Phil has trained and taught all over the world. He was one of the initial instructors to the newly restructured Federal Air Marshals in 2001, and the Federal Flight Deck Officers Program in the early 2000’s. Phillip has had numerous Military contracts, teaching to all branches of the US Military and several Foreign Military Entities.
Phillip is a lifetime martial artist. He has a PhD in Martial Arts Philosophy and is a member of the USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame and the Martial Arts Masters Hall of Fame. He has instructor certificates in several Filipino Martial Arts, Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, Wing Chun Gung Fu, Western Boxing, and Kenpo Karate. He is also a USMC Black Belt.
Phillip is a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and has worked as an actor, stuntman, and voice-over actor, choreographer, teacher, and technical advisor on numerous motion pictures, commercials, theater productions, instructional videos, and early computer game productions.
Andre Kuhr
Andre has worked as a staff instructor for Rubicon Group for over 20 years. He is a former reserve Deputy Sheriff in Southern California and a long time firearms and self-defense instructor. Andre specializes in handgun, shotgun, and rifle training, as well as well as professional tactical team training and civilian home defense and survival training.
Andre is a lifelong martial artist and instructor. Andre worked for over 20 years in the bail enforcement and fugitive apprehension business, dealing with criminals in the Los Angeles and Southern California area and neighboring states. Andre specializes in training first-time and beginner level shooters as well as coaching and sharpening more advanced shooters. Andre works in the private security business and has worked for several A-List actors, musicians, and social media personalities.
Nicholas Crist
Nick is a retired US Navy SEABEE Chief. He has taught for Rubicon Group for over 20 years. Nick was heavily involved with training and weapons management during his senior years in the Navy. Nick deployed overseas 8 times during his career and served a prestigious assignment at Camp David during the Reagan Presidency. Nick is also a retired Southern California Police Officer where he was a member of his department’s SWAT Team, SRT Team, Vice Unit, and Training Cadre. Nick currently works for the US government, managing weapons for the US Navy. He stays on the cutting edge of weapons development and implementation for the US Military, working closely with the world’s leading military manufacturing companies and fellow managers for the other military services. In his many capacities, he has helped all branches of the military and untold numbers of federal, state, and local agencies with weapons and equipment needs. He has remained on the short call list for many law enforcement agencies and departments who are constantly in need of equipment or advice. Walk a convention floor with Nick and you will quickly appreciate how reps from virtually every major weapons and equipment manufacturer know and respect him.