Brian Brickey: A Career Built on Family, Service, Skill, and Firearms Safety

 

At a glance: Proud husband, father, and grandfather • Committed to responsible defense of self, family, and community • Air Force veteran • Firearms safety instructor since 2012 • Colorado “Verified Instructor” for concealed handgun training (post–HB24-1174) • Lifelong student of defensive shooting • Action Steel competitor

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Ask Brian what great training looks like and you’ll hear a theme: safety first, fundamentals always, and continuous improvement. As the lead instructor behind CCW Colorado, he combines military discipline with practical, real‑world coaching to help students build confident, responsible skills for lawful carry and armed self‑defense—so they’re better prepared to protect themselves, the people they love, and their community when avoidance isn’t an option.

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From Service to Skill: The Foundation

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Brian served 11 years in the U.S. Air Force, where he built a strong foundation in safe firearms handling and marksmanship. That experience shaped his training mindset—disciplined basics, consistent standards, and the belief that competence starts with safe, repeatable habits.

After separating from the military in 2003, Brian leaned hard into civilian training with both pistols and rifles. As a firearm enthusiast and Second Amendment advocate, he focused on the skills that matter most for everyday carry: safe gun handling, situational awareness, sound decision‑making, and accurate shooting under realistic conditions.

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Teaching Begins: Firearms Safety Instruction (2012–Present)

 

In 2012, Brian began teaching civilians with a structured, student‑centered approach that keeps learning clear and hands‑on. His classes emphasize easy‑to‑remember safety routines, repeatable fundamentals, and measurable progress—so students don’t just “learn it once,” they can do it when it counts.

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Rather than focusing on gear or slogans, Brian emphasizes real‑world application and decision‑making. He doesn’t teach students to carry a firearm; he teaches them how to use it in real‑world situations—to “win the fight,” should a student ever face a genuine, life‑threatening encounter. He frames those skills around lawful, last‑resort defense—encouraging students to think first about protecting themselves and their families, and to act responsibly in ways that keep bystanders and the broader community as safe as possible. That practical focus is grounded in awareness, avoidance, and sound judgment, along with a clear understanding of the legal and personal responsibilities that come with concealed carry and armed self‑defense.

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Colorado CHP Verification: Meeting the New Standard (2025)

 

Colorado’s House Bill 24-1174 updated statewide standards for concealed handgun training, effective July 1, 2025. Under the updated law, concealed handgun training certificates must be issued by a county-sheriff-verified “Verified Instructor.” Brian was the first verified CHP instructor in Colorado after the law took effect—an early marker of his commitment to staying current with state requirements and delivering training that meets the new framework.

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Across his military background, years of civilian practice, and more than a decade of teaching, Brian’s focus stays consistent: safety first, fundamentals always, and continuous improvement. He blends structured coursework with ongoing skill-building through professional classes and competition—so students get practical tools for safe handling, responsible carry, and confident decision‑making. At its core, his instruction is about helping everyday people become more capable protectors of self, family, and community—without losing sight of restraint, legality, and the value of de-escalation. In Brian’s world, progress is simple: learn it, practice it, pressure‑test it, and come back better.

 

Highlights You Can Measure

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• Colorado Verified CHP instructor (2025): Verified under the post–HB24-1174 requirements that took effect July 1, 2025—helping ensure students receive training aligned with the state’s updated standard.

• Always training (even as the instructor): Brian routinely takes classes from other professionals to keep sharpening his defensive shooting. In 2025 alone, he completed nine courses covering situational awareness, active shooter response, advanced defensive shooting, advanced rifle, and first-aid/trauma topics.

• FASTER Colorado—perfect qualification: Shot a perfect qualification score in the FASTER Colorado Level 1 course (reported as the fifth person to achieve a perfect run).

• Action Steel competitor: Recently began competing in Action Steel to pressure-test fundamentals under the clock—then translate those lessons into clearer demos, better drills, and more helpful coaching for students.

• Current courses taught: Situational Awareness (spot cues, avoid trouble early); Introduction to Firearms for Self-Defense (safe handling + core concepts); Pistol Fundamentals (grip, sights, trigger control); Colorado Concealed Carry (permit training + responsibilities); Advanced Defensive Shooting (movement, speed, problem-solving); Non-Lethal Tools for Defense (options, deployment, legal basics); AVIRT Active Violence Response Instructor (response fundamentals + readiness).