Author

Fred Mastison

Field Editor
Fred Mastison is a national magazine contributor and a full-time Field Editor with Athlon Outdoors. His work appears regularly in Ballistic Magazine, Tactical Life, Personal Defense World, American Frontiersman, Skillset, Combat Handguns, and Athlon Untamed. When he is not behind a keyboard, he prefers to be in the field, hunting. Over the course of his career, Mastison has authored more than 1,500 articles for 27 publications. He brings over four decades of experience in firearms and close-quarters combatives training. He holds 17 law-enforcement POST certifications across the United States and serves as a certifying instructor for law enforcement firearms instructors, covering handgun, patrol rifle, shotgun, and submachine gun platforms. His background also includes extensive work in executive protection. Beyond the U.S., he maintains active training divisions in Germany, Ireland, and Mexico. Mastison also has nearly 45 years of experience in the martial arts. He holds a fifth-degree black belt in Aikido, a seventh-degree black belt in Aiki Jitsu, Shihan level in Japanese sword, and a sixth-degree black belt in Kyusho Jitsu. Over the years, he has trained thousands of students. His contributions to martial arts were recognized with his induction into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2002 for Aikido. He was honored again in 2004 as Defensive Tactics Instructor of the Year. He also serves as a regular instructor at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he teaches Operational Security and Personal Security to U.S. embassy personnel preparing for deployment worldwide.

Fred Mastison is a national magazine contributor and a full-time Field Editor with Athlon Outdoors. His work appears regularly in Ballistic Magazine, Tactical Life, Personal Defense World, American Frontiersman, Skillset, Combat Handguns, and Athlon Untamed. When he is not behind a keyboard, he prefers to be in the field, hunting.

Over the course of his career, Mastison has authored more than 1,500 articles for 27 publications. He brings over four decades of experience in firearms and close-quarters combatives training. He holds 17 law-enforcement POST certifications across the United States and serves as a certifying instructor for law enforcement firearms instructors, covering handgun, patrol rifle, shotgun, and submachine gun platforms.

His background also includes extensive work in executive protection. Beyond the U.S., he maintains active training divisions in Germany, Ireland, and Mexico.

Mastison also has nearly 45 years of experience in the martial arts. He holds a fifth-degree black belt in Aikido, a seventh-degree black belt in Aiki Jitsu, Shihan level in Japanese sword, and a sixth-degree black belt in Kyusho Jitsu. Over the years, he has trained thousands of students. His contributions to martial arts were recognized with his induction into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2002 for Aikido. He was honored again in 2004 as Defensive Tactics Instructor of the Year.

He also serves as a regular instructor at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he teaches Operational Security and Personal Security to U.S. embassy personnel preparing for deployment worldwide.

Fred Mastison

Field editor, master instructor, and martial arts Hall of Famer

Fred Mastison is a national magazine contributor and a full-time Field Editor with Athlon Outdoors. His work appears regularly in Ballistic Magazine, Tactical Life, Personal Defense World, American Frontiersman, Skillset, Combat Handguns, and Athlon Untamed. When he is not behind a keyboard, he prefers to be in the field, hunting.

Over the course of his career, Mastison has authored more than 1,500 articles for 27 publications. He brings over four decades of experience in firearms and close-quarters combatives training. He holds 17 law-enforcement POST certifications across the United States and serves as a certifying instructor for law enforcement firearms instructors, covering handgun, patrol rifle, shotgun, and submachine gun platforms.

His background also includes extensive work in executive protection. Beyond the U.S., he maintains active training divisions in Germany, Ireland, and Mexico.

Mastison also has nearly 45 years of experience in the martial arts. He holds a fifth-degree black belt in Aikido, a seventh-degree black belt in Aiki Jitsu, Shihan level in Japanese sword, and a sixth-degree black belt in Kyusho Jitsu. Over the years, he has trained thousands of students. His contributions to martial arts were recognized with his induction into the United States Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2002 for Aikido. He was honored again in 2004 as Defensive Tactics Instructor of the Year.

He also serves as a regular instructor at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, where he teaches Operational Security and Personal Security to U.S. embassy personnel preparing for deployment worldwide.

firearms trainingclose-quarters combativeslaw enforcement firearms instructionexecutive protectionmartial artsoperational securityhunting
  • 17 law-enforcement POST certifications (U.S.)
  • Certifying instructor for law enforcement firearms instructors (handgun, patrol rifle, shotgun, submachine gun)
  • National Association of Chiefs of Police Adjunct Instructor
  • Arizona DPS Certified Firearms Instructor
  • Arizona DPS CCW Instructor
  • State of Missouri DPS certifying instructor for LE handgun instructors
  • State of Missouri DPS certifying instructor for LE shotgun instructors
  • State of Missouri DPS certifying instructor for LE patrol rifle instructors
  • State of Missouri DPS certifying instructor for LE submachine gun instructors
  • Defensive Tactics Instructor (AZ, TX, MO, NV, OH, HI, TN, KS)
  • Arizona LE edged weapon defense instructor
  • Arizona LE close-quarter combat instructor
  • Arizona pressure points for LE instructor
  • Missouri executive protection for LE teams instructor
  • Indiana police sniper instructor
  • Certified Glock Armorer
  • Certified 1911 Armorer
  • Certified AR Armorer
  • NRA Certified Handgun Instructor
  • NRA Certified Shotgun Instructor
  • NRA Certified Rifle Instructor
  • NRA Certified Firearms Safety Instructor
  • NRA Certified Inside the Home Personal Protection Instructor
  • NRA Certified Outside the Home Personal Protection Instructor
  • Certified Monadnock expandable baton
  • Blackwater Tactical Medic - NAEMT
  • Surefire Trauma Medic Immediate Care
  • US State Department MQ911 Security Overseas Course Certification
  • 7th degree Black Belt - Aikijitsu
  • Shihan - Japanese Sword
  • 6th degree Black Belt - Kyusho Jitsu
  • 5th degree Black Belt - Aikido
Find Fred Mastison online:athlonoutdoors.com · forceoptionsusa.com · ammoland.com · thearmorylife.com · resources.mossberg.com · LinkedIn · Instagram
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