https://firearmsacademy.com/instructorsLooks like it was bought by their operations manager BELLE T. MCCORMACK.
As far as having military experience or being a special operator, I think it is relevant but often times being an outsider and having the ability to translate the material and teach it in an effective manner takes precedence. As far as my military experience, I've seen many bumbling idiots that can't shoot straight or don't care about marksmanship or safety. A person who carries and shoots the most probably has the most relevant experience, but many people lie and some just don't care. So being military or LEO may not matter IMO.
Bill Burris, was a LEO lead trainer for Pierce County, and even had his own school he ran on a shoestring budget, but there were issues that forced him to close his school. Great place too, but he had to spend thousands for range improvements on the Upper Nisqually range to support his training.
There was a lawyer guy who taught at FAS in the past who made some great points that I learned (e.g. you shoot to STOP not shoot to KILL like I was taught in the Army) who I thought was worthwhile and there was British guy with military experience who taught handgun that I thought was qualified. FRANK P. DEYOUNG was in the same MAG 40 by Masaad Ayoob class I was in, he seems ok.
FAS is a low budget operation compared to others like Front Site (started by a
chiropractor who wanted a superior firearms school), Gunsight, Thunder Ranch, etc. But you're going to pay for a better range and facilities.
If you asked Marty, you could even camp out there if you wished.
https://firearmsacademy.com/accomodationsI think they just wanted the brass cleared so people weren't stepping all over it. Probably wasn't the best way to do it.