Gene Whisenand
Lead Instructor – Trident Firearms Academy, LLC
Private Investigator/Qualified Manager – CA-Investigations
P.O. Box 1319, Salida, CA 95368
EMAIL: [email protected]
NRA LED Instructor # 168421939
Summary
Gene has been recognized by the Superior Courts of California as a
- Carrying Concealed Weapons Expert
- Firearms Expert
- Use of Force Expert
- Firearms Identification Expert
10 Years as a Navy Corpsman attached to the United States Marine Corps (6.5 years Active Duty and 3.5 years in the Reserves), Veteran of the Cold War, Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Many of those years spent as an instructor for Emergency/Trauma Medicine.
Gene received an Honorable Discharge from the United States Navy in 1995.
Gene worked in Emergency Medicine in the East San Francisco Bay Area, part time and later full time, between 1989 through 1997; he worked in the field and in a hospital emergency/trauma room.
Gene has been a private investigator since 2001 becoming a Qualified Manager and sole proprietor of CA Investigations in 2007. He has worked a vast multitude of cases ranging from infidelity case to mass murder cases. During that time he has been recognized as a subject matter expert on a variety of subjects including CCW, Firearms, Use of Force, and Gun Manufacturer Identification.
Gene received his Concealed Weapons Permit in 2000 from Stanislaus County and have sought instruction in the defense use of firearms since then.
Gene has been a competitive shooter since the early nineties; competing in IDPA, IPSC, Cowboy Action Shooting and various long range shooting events.
In 2008 Gene partnered with Dan Gray to form Trident Firearms Academy, LLC, a private company teaching law enforcement, military, and citizen firearms safety courses, home defense, and concealed carry for pistol, as well as shotgun, and rifle courses. They constantly strive to update, improve, modify, and enhance the firearms training program to provide the best and safest, court defensible training for civilian and law enforcement personnel. Their personal training philosophy in regards to firearms training; “Bring the Street to the Range”.
In 2026 Dan retired from Trident Firearms Academy, LLC, and Gene is going to continue the company’s very favorable reputation into the foreseeable future
Education
Military Vocational Training – Corpsman (Specializing in Emergency Medicine) NEC 8404
Instructor Certificates
- California Department of Justice Carry Concealed Weapon Program Certified Instructor (753 Current)
- California Department of Justice Certified Firearms Instructor (353177 Current)
- California Department of Justice Certificate of Eligibility (59882 Current)
- California Department of Justice, Bureau of Firearms, Entertainment Firearms Permit
- California Department of Justice, Firearms Bureau, Firearms Safety Certificate Program Instructor (Current)
- State of Utah, Department of Public Safety, Concealed Firearm Permit Instructor (Current)
- Certified Glock Armorer (2013)
- National Rifle Association (Law Enforcement Division) Handgun Instructor (2011)
- National Rifle Association (Law Enforcement Division) Handgun/Shotgun Instructor (2011)
- National Rifle Association Range Safety Officer Certification (2010)
- National Rifle Association (Law Enforcement Division) Handgun/Shotgun Instructor (2010)
- Trident Firearms Academy Tactical Handgun Instructor (2009)
- Trident Firearms Academy Tactical Shotgun Instructor (2009)
- Trident Firearms Academy Tactical Carbine Instructor (2009)
- National Rifle Association (Law Enforcement Division) Patrol Rifle Instructor (2009)
- Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-1A) Instructor (US Navy 1989-1993)
- Emergency Vehicle Operation Course Instructor (US Navy 1989 – 1993)
- Unit Training Petty Officer (US Navy 1990 – 1993)
- Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership Course (1990)
Additional Certificates
- Costa Ludus (Chris Costa) – Carbine 1 (December, 2024)
- Glock Certified Armorer (Gustine Police Department – 2013)
- Tactical Handgun (Yavapai Shooting Academy – Louis Awerbuck – 2003)
- PC 832 Firearms Course (Modesto Junior College – 1999)
Photo Credits
- Police One (policeone.com)
- “The revolvers everyone loved at SHOT Show 2025 Range Day (Jan 2025
- Photo of the Week: Ring of fire, SHOT Show 2023 (Jan 2023)
- Why targets from Infinity Targets may be the last targets some shooters ever need (Jan 2023)
- Trident Firearms Academy Chooses T4E Markers for Training (May 2022)
- “3 lessons I learned from SHOT Show” (Jan 2022)
- 3 Winners at SHOT Show Industry Day at the Range (Jan 2022)
- 10 Firearms training drills for off-duty carry (Dec 2019)
- SHOT Show 2018: 3 Trends at Industry Day at the Range
- Four Impressive Firearms at SHOT Show 2018
- “Two very different guns, one shared goal: Performance under pressure (Jan 2017)
- ”10 firearms warning drills for off-duty carry” (Jan 2016)
- The Dream Glock I Designed at SHOT Show
- Officer (officer.com)
- SHOT Show 2026: The Sights, Sounds and Must-See Products – April, 2026
- Hello from SHOT Show 2025: What Gear We Liked This Year – April, 2025
- “Drills Made Easy” – April, 2022
- Test & Evaluation: Ruger PC Carbine – December, 2018
- SHOT Show Law Enforcement Roundup 2018
- BEAST (Building Entry And Search Techniques) Training – Specialized Training (Feb 2022)
- SHOT Show 2023 – April 2023
- Get Off Me! – Specialized Training (Aug 2022)
- Old School Is Still Cool (Jan 2019)
- Test and Evaluation: Ruger PC Carbine (Dec 2018)
- The History & Evolution of Patrol Vehicles… What’s Next? (Oct 2018)
- Shooting through walls (Nov 2016)
- A Closer Look at Shotgun Shells
- Review of the Smith and Wesson 442: Old School is Cool
- Law Enforcement Technology Magazine
- Cover Photo (Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy)
Author Credits
- Police One (policeone.com)
- Why targets from Infinity Targets may be the last targets some shooters ever need (Jan 2023)
- Officer (officer.com)
- The Power of the Pen
- Law Enforcement Technology Magazine
- The Power of the Pen