Chris Zupan is a Marine veteran and longtime law enforcement professional who brings more than two decades of SWAT, sniper, and firearms-instruction experience to Thunder Ranch’s law enforcement and tactical training programs.
Chris Zupan is a Thunder Ranch instructor with a background that blends Marine Corps service, long-term law enforcement leadership, and extensive SWAT sniper experience. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps as a mortarman, where he worked as a team leader, forward observer, urban warfare instructor, and member of a tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel team. After leaving the military, he entered law enforcement and has served for more than 25 years across patrol, narcotics, criminal investigations, gang and street crimes, supervision, and major crimes leadership.
Over more than 20 years on SWAT, Chris held roles including sniper/observer, sniper team leader, entry team member, assistant team leader, and assistant SWAT commander. He also serves as a defensive tactics, use-of-force, and firearms instructor for his agency. His profile reflects a practical, operational teaching foundation shaped by real-world tactical service. Trusted by law enforcement, tactical professionals, and serious firearms students alike.
Build consistent first-round impacts from 100 to 700 yards with practical mid-range rifle application and data-driven shooting.
Develop the ability to run a scoped AR from close quarters to 700 yards with speed, precision, and efficient target transitions under pressure.
Apply precision rifle standards in urban environments with movement, team coordination, and problem-solving across realistic structures and scenarios.
Master high-angle precision shooting in demanding terrain, combining field movement, altitude exposure, and complex engagement problems under load.
Build operational sniper capability through fundamentals, scenario-based training, and urban and rural engagements in a law enforcement context.
Advance operational sniper capability through high-tempo scenarios, night operations, and complex urban and rural problem-solving under stress.
Thunder Ranch, founded by Clint Smith in Oregon, is a premier firearms training facility delivering multi-day rifle and long-range courses in realistic terrain-driven environments.
