Lead Instructor

Jeremy Stafford is our Lead Instructor at Simi Valley Krav Maga. Jeremy has a background in Judo, Wrestling, the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and Police Defensive Tactics. He has been training in Krav Maga for over 8 years and is a certified expert level instructor.

Jeremy is currently a Police Officer with the LAPD. He has been on the job for over 11 years and has worked as a Patrol Officer, Narcotics Officer, a Firearms Instructor at the Police Academy, a Field Training Officer, and is currently assigned to a specialized unit within the LAPD's Counter-Terrorism Bureau.

Jeremy also spent 13 1/2 years in the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve. He has been deployed all over the world in support of the Global War on Terror, including a combat tour in Iraq, where he earned a Bronze Star with a Combat "V" for valor, several tours to Southeast Asia as a Counter-Terrorism liason, and a tour in the horn of Africa as an advisor. Towards the end of his tour in Iraq, Jeremy was assigned to help rebuild the Baghdad Police Department, where he developed the first joint USMC-Iraqi Police patrol program. Jeremy and his development of this program were featured in POLICE Magazine as well as on CNN, FOX News, and Good Morning America.

Besides his Civilian Krav Maga Instructor certification, Jeremy is also a certified Krav Maga Force Training Division Police Instructor. Jeremy has also been through the following certification courses.

- USMC Primary Marksmanship Instructors course.

- LAPD and California POST Certified Pistol Instructor course.

- LAPD and California POST Certified Shotgun Instructor course.

- LAPD and California POST Certified Rifle Instructor course.

- LAPD and California POST Instructor Development Course.

- Department of Homeland Security Certified First Responder Instructors course.

- USMC/DOD Certified Range Officer.

- LAPD and California POST Certified Police Field Training Officers course.

- LAPD and California POST Certified Less Lethal Instructor.

- Glock Certified Instructors course.

- Surefire Institute Low Light Instructors Course.

During the course of his career, Jeremy has conducted training for some of the finest Military and Law Enforcement Agencies and Operators in the world, including Specialized Units within the LAPD, the Thai Royal Marine Corps, the DOD, and the DOHS.

Jeremy is also a nationally published Author and his articles have been featured in Guns and Ammo as well as Guns and Ammo Specialty publications including Tactical Guns And Gear and Combat Arms.

Jeremy has also been a Technical Advisor for television shows such as Spike TV's Wild World of Spike.

Jeremy recently left the Marine Corps to spend more time with his family and help his wife Julie take care of their three kids, 11 year old Jessica, 9 year old Jack and 3 year old Joseph, who is disabled.