Treasure Valley Shooting Academy

David (Dave) Morgan is currently the Safety Manager and crew supervisor for a directional drilling company in Boise, ID. He is currently a Range Safety Officer and coach the rest of the time. He is driving full throttle towards becoming an USCCA Certified Instructor for Treasure Valley Shooting Academy. He is committed to helping others to succeed, focusing on promoting safety while building skills.

His interest in firearms (and cars) began as a teen, target shooting with his neighbor but then his first major influence was a gun dealer/mechanic working out of his house and garage. This interest in firearms turned into a passion during his service as a Master-At-Arms in the US Navy from 2003 - 2008, where he specialized in Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection. Through this position, he was able to gain qualification and knowledge in a multitude of weapons and tactics, including expert with both pistol and rifle and rules for use of force that can, in part, be adapted to the civilian world. After leaving the service, Dave started his career in underground utilities in early 2009, starting as a laborer (literally in the trenches and vastly different from his desired trade), but all the while volunteering, when available, as a coach working with a local instructor/gunsmith for about 10 years. This volunteer service and friendship led to starting his own business of firearms repair in 2020 and, unfortunately, he had to close his doors four years later. Dave did not let that stop him; his passion for wanting to teach people about firearms and how to handle one properly, has led him to working with TVSA. Those experiences continue to shape the way Dave approaches teaching and coaching as well as his own training and goals.

Today, Dave is a USCCA certified RSO and competitive shooter in sporting clays, 3-gun and PRS while looking to expand into USPSA and other disciplines. While not yet recognized as a certified instructor, he specializes in basic fundamentals of marksmanship, weapons handling and defensive tactics with handguns, carbines, and rifles all with a focus on a safe learning environment. Don’t let his gruff appearance fool you, and though competitive by nature, he has a calm and nurturing demeanor that allows him to teach with a semi-personalized approach by establishing a connection with students and staff alike, to understand their needs, while still offering all necessary instruction to help them achieve the confidence and skills necessary to perform and to expand their abilities.

He believes that knowledge, training and practice combined with a desire that only the student can provide, will lead to the confidence and skills needed to accomplish the goal at hand, whether it be hitting a target from 1 yard to 1 mile, having a fighting chance to survive an encounter of a less than desirable nature, or anything in between. His instruction emphasizes a balance of hands-on learning with classroom time that includes visual, electronic, and written aids to give students the best chance at retaining the knowledge being offered.

Beyond his roles as a supervisor, RSO and coach, Dave continues to advance his own skills through ongoing training, competition, and goal setting/achievement. His dedication to growth reflects his belief “that the day we stop learning is the day we stop living.”