The US National SWAT Championships is a property of Advanced SWAT Training & Competition (AST&C), a Colorado company that specializes in Law Enforcement training and law enforcement related competitions. AST&C competitions are focused on policing skills, and weapons marksmanship. Other AST&C events are: US SWAT Sniper Championships and a planned American Three Gun Classic.
The objective of AST&C training is to provide cutting edge training to law enforcement agencies that is both relevant and practical with the goal of making each student more skilled, more efficient, and more ultimately capable.
The principles of AST&C have over 60 years of “street” and training experience in the law enforcement and military. Their subject matter expertise includes: Basic SWAT, Advanced SWAT, Hostage Negotiations, Building Entry and Searches, Explosives and Explosive Entry, Patrol Tactics, Less Lethal Systems, Chemical Agents, Physical Security, Officer Survival Skills, K-9 Strategies, Precision Driving, Counter-terror Programs, Suicide Bomber Detection and Tactics, and Basic and Advanced Weapons (pistol, carbine, rifle).
Additionally, AST&C consults to organizations regarding event management in the areas of: event planning, logistics, media (including TV), competitive event development and execution of competitions.
The following are brief biographies of AST&C principles.
John S. O’Connor II. Ph.D. – Managing General Partner and EVP
Executive Director US National SWAT Championships
Dr. Jack is a retired Army officer, Airborne-Ranger and combat veteran. He holds a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Arizona State and he is a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine where he has held several leadership positions. Jack has spent the last 17 years as an executive in corporate America focusing on marketing, event management and training. His experience includes corporate management, business development, international sales and marketing, and training program development. He has also produced, written and done on-camera work for over 25 TV programs covering police, fire and military competitions. In recent years he has worked in the business development arena creating new properties and opening new markets for small companies, to include RED SWAT, a Portuguese-American company that provides training and equipment to the military and law enforcement in Portugal. His international experience includes work on NATO Study Groups, as the lead US Representative to the International Olympic Academy and Director of Portugal’s 1st Homeland Security Conference. Dr. Jack has had the good fortune to work with some of the world’s most elite military and law enforcement units over the past decade. He is the creator of the World SWAT Challenge, the US National SWAT Championships and has been instrumental in developing several other competitive and training properties for the police, fire and military professions. Dr. Jack lives with his wife Ellen in Mesa, AZ.
Richard R. Porter - Vice President and Director of Competition
Richard Porter, known as Rick to his friends, is retired a police Lieutenant with over 30 years of service in the Fayetteville, NC Police Department. During his career he served in every facet of policing including: Patrolman, Patrol Sergeant, K-9 Supervisor, Watch Commander, Academy Training Coordinator, and leader of the Emergency Response Team (SWAT). Rick holds LE instructor certifications from NC Justice Academy, FBI, NRA and since 1979, has taught accredited courses to police, military and civilian agencies in Advanced SWAT Tactics, Patrol Tactics, Officer Survival, Search and Rescue, Explosives and Explosive Entry, Hostage Negotiations, K-9 Strategies, Precision Driving and Firearms Training (pistol, rifle, sniper). In addition, Rick is a national level marksman in both Three-Gun and Pistol and has coached Fayetteville PD’s team to wins in NC Police Combat League Team competition, Remington Law Enforcement Pistol competition and the North/South Carolina Police Olympics pistol competition.
Over the past five years Rick has participated in, organized and managed SWAT and Three Gun competitions at both the local, national and international level. He currently resides in York, South Carolina.
Rezso L. Molnar - Vice President and Director of Logistics
Rez Molnar retired from General Motors after 23 years of service, where he worked in various logistical and manufacturing positions to include Skilled Trades (tool & die), Supervisor, and Production Management. Using his BA in Business Management, Rez started and manages two successful real estate management companies in the Cleveland, Ohio area. He was an original manager with the World SWAT Challenge and helped coordinate its sponsorship and vendor programs. A prior-service Army Infantryman, Rez was Distinguished Honor Graduate of his 1977 Ranger Class, Honor Graduate of his BNOC Course and an OCS nominee. He is bi-lingual (English and Hungarian) and his thirst for knowledge has him still pursuing additional degrees. In his younger days Rez was a national level soccer player and invited to the US Olympic Trials (1973). He still finds time to train and run marathons. He resides in Strongsville, OH with his two sons.
