Deana Hudgins
President and CEO of the CFTE
Deanahas a wealth of experience in the field of Search and Rescue and, since 2001, has responded to hundreds of missing person searches for local, state, and federal agencies. She is the Executive Director and a Founding Member of Ohio Search and Recovery Canines and also a Canine Search Specialist for FEMA Ohio Task Force One, working with both human remains detection and live find canines.
Deana is a trainer and lead evaluator and frequently consults as a subject matter expert for large-scale training exercises and missing person cases, providing guidance in search strategy and planning, resource management, mapping, and data collection.
Dr. Erin Perry
K9 Decontamination Online Course
Dr. Erin Perry is an Associate professor at Southern Illinois University with more than 15 years of experience with working canines. Her research focuses on bringing practical solutions to the challenges encountered by working canines on deployment, including gastrointestinal upset as a result of stress and improvements to current decontamination methods. Dr. Perry works with the Federal Emergency Management Agency as a Canine Handler, Evaluator, and Instructor. Her published work includes investigations into the impacts of travel stress on working canines, a comprehensive review on canine olfaction, and studies examining the mechanics of canine decontamination. She has deployed with her canine partners to numerous disasters, including Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, Joplin Tornado, Colorado Flooding, Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Harvey, and Hurricane Florence.
Dr. Shannon Vawter, DVM, MS
K9 Emergency Medical Course
Dr. Shannon Vawteris the Medical Director at Thrive Pet Healthcare Wedgewood in Nashville, TN, with over 12 years of experience in private practice and emergency care. A Mississippi State University graduate, she holds a DVM and a Master’s in Veterinary Science.
Dr. Vawter has 15 years of experience working with K9 officers, providing on-call care and treatment. She has also taught over 10 classes specifically for first responders and officers on canine health. Passionate about client relationships and patient care, she shares her home with two Great Danes, a King Charles Cavalier, and an Orange Tabby.
Joey Agustin
Interactive Decoy Instructor
Joey Agustinis a highly accomplished K9 officer and trainer with extensive law enforcement experience. He joined the Norfolk Police Department in 2006 and became a dual-purpose patrol and explosives handler in 2008. Recognized for his dedication, he was named K9 Officer of the Year in 2016, 2018, and 2019. He earned his Patrol Canine Master Trainer certification in 2017 and Explosives Master Trainer certification in 2021. After retiring as an active handler, he now serves as the Master Trainer for Norfolk PD’s K9 Unit, developing advanced training methods and equipment. In 2023, he joined Spike’s School as the Interactive Decoy Lead Instructor, sharing his expertise with departments nationwide.
Jordan and Genevieve Ballard
Crystal Clear K9
Genevievebegan her dog training career at a chain pet store, teaching group classes of varying sizes and eventually managing the training department by age 22. Her passion expanded beyond obedience when she transitioned into behavior modification, working at a K9 rehabilitation facility with unadoptable dogs facing aggression issues. Through hands-on experience, she became a strong advocate for proper dog training, recognizing how misunderstandings lead to behavioral problems. She joined Crystal Clear K9 to further her ability to train and educate effectively. In 2018, she entered the Protection Sports Association and earned a Protection Dog Certificate with her German Shepherd, Zoe, in 2019. Her future goals include earning more dog sport titles, expanding training advocacy, and, of course, adding more German Shepherds to her pack.
Jordan started training dogs at 14 with his first Malinois, a fiery female named Raquel who left a lasting impression—both figuratively and literally. After high school, he completed a two-year dog trainer apprenticeship, gaining hands-on experience in decoy work and various training theories. His expertise spans obedience, protection, agility, tracking, and detection, adapting techniques to suit each dog rather than following a rigid method. In 2012, he earned his Security Dog Handler’s Certification through the VA DCJS, and in 2013, he founded Crystal Clear K9 with his Dutch Shepherd, Bella. Currently enrolled in Tarheel K9’s correspondence course, he continues to expand his knowledge, always considering himself a student of his craft.
Paul Ludwig
Adaptive K9 Deployment Strategies
Paul Ludwig, a retired Metro Transit Police K9 officer, has over 25 years of law enforcement experience. After surviving a near-fatal incident due to K9 failures, he reshaped his training philosophy, emphasizing real-world applications.
Founder of Irondog K9, Paul trains agencies worldwide, focusing on K9 apprehension, adaptability, and "Critical Thinking Under Chaos." He directed the documentary K9 Guardians and advocates for continuous learning in K9 training.
Phillipi “Mountain” Sanz
Tracking Course
Phillipi"Mountain" Sanz is a former U.S. Marine with 12 years of service, including five deployments. He specialized in K9 operations, working with Improvised Detection Dogs (IDDs) and Tactical Explosive Detection Dogs (TEDDs) in Afghanistan. After his military career, he trained explosive detection dogs for major organizations and the DoD.
As a Tier-One Instructor, Mountain leads Spike’s K9 Fund’s free Tracking Courses and supports Tier 1 and 2 K9 handler courses globally. He has instructed at ATK9, HITS, and other major conferences, focusing on behavioral science, laser direction, and tactical K9 integration.
Rick Hogg
One-Handed Pistol Shooting Course Instructor
The owner of War HOGG Tactical, Inc., Rick is a 29-year U.S. Army Special Operations Combat Veteran and former Special Operations K9 handler. With 13 combat deployments, he combines real-world experience with expertise as a Special Forces Advanced Urban Combat instructor. Through War HOGG Tactical, he provides firearms, tactical, and K9 training to civilians, military, and law enforcement. His combat-proven methods enhance students' skills, effectiveness, and survivability. In addition to training, he consults on product development and field testing for the defense and firearms industries.
Steve Stoops
K9 / Tactical Team Integration Course AND Dynamic Detection Course
Steve "Zane" Stoops is a Senior CAD Trainer with 19 years at JSOC, where he helped create the world’s top working dog program and the Army Ranger CAD program. With 14 combat deployments, he has trained K9 teams for elite units worldwide and developed the FBI HRT’s CAD program.
A former Indiana K9 Officer with 20 years in law enforcement, he earned four Combat Crosses and a Presidential Citizenship Award. He also led K9 security for Afghan President Karzai and the Albanian National Police. A Qualified Expert Witness in U.S. Federal Court, he teaches K9 seminars nationwide.