Become a member of IFC! John "TIG" Tiegen -– Former Marine Sergeant from 3rd Battalion 7th Marines India Company, Infantry Squad Leader from Colorado. Spent several years as a security contractor for Blackwater working for the company on missions in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq before going to work for the CIA's Global Response Staff, with over 40 deployments conducting low profile security in high threat environment throughout the world. You might remember Tig was IFC's featured speaker at the Firearms & Freedom event.

Quiet and precise, the married father of twins was the most experienced Annex Security Team member in the city. In the midst of his third trip to Benghazi, Libya, for the CIA's GRS when the attack of September 11, 2012, occurred and was part of the CIA annex security team that responded to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Special Mission. TIG directly saved the lives of many on his team.

Tig has now set his sights on cleaning up Colorado Springs, CO. Tig earned his leadership on the battlefield. Now he's using it to serve Colorado Springs with action, not politics. Check out tigformayor.com and engage!

Become a member of IFC! Chief Matthew Thomas is the Police Chief of Florence, Arizona, and a 32-year veteran of the Pinal County Sheriff's Office, where he retired as Chief Deputy. He has led SWAT, narcotics, anti-smuggling, and major multi-agency operations targeting transnational cartels—and in 2022 became a best-selling author with Interceptors: The Untold Fight Against the Mexican Cartels. Find it HERE.

A graduate of the FBI National Academy and a nationally recognized leader in intelligence-led policing, special operations, and innovative enforcement strategies, Chief Thomas is known for his no-nonsense leadership, deep community commitment, and passion for developing future law enforcement leaders. He's an instructor, speaker, and trusted voice on border security, officer wellness, and modern policing.

Become a member of IFC! Mark Vaughan is the Vice President of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and is an Endowment Life member. He is the President of the Oklahoma Rifle Association. He is a dedicated competitor and outdoorsman, and has been nominated for re-election to continue his service to the organization. Mark also serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Education and Training Committee and is a member of the Law Enforcement Assistance and Clubs and Associations committees. He has worked with the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office since 2010, and was awarded the NRA's Law Enforcement Officer of the Year in 2014 for his actions in stopping an extremist attack at a food facility in Oklahoma. For 25-years, he's been a trustee of the Oklahoma City Gun Club, where he has overseen its expansion and supported programs such as Women on Target and youth shooting programs. Mark is also an experienced businessman, having grown Vaughan Foods to a publicly traded enterprise until 2012, and remaining active in the food and logistics industries.

Support the Second Amendment by becoming a member. Born into a gun-free household, Alex Christenson's journey into the firearms industry began at age eighteen with a single shot from a friend's shotgun. This initial spark led to a deep-seated passion for hunting and a natural curiosity about firearm mechanics, sparked by the challenge of reassembling a Remington 870. The global shifts of 2020 served as a catalyst for professional change; after customizing an AR-15 for family protection, Alex committed to formal education at the Sonoran Desert Institute. Graduating in 2022 with a 3.98 GPA and Magna Cum Laude honors, he recognized a critical shortage of skilled gunsmiths in Iowa. Leveraging new state legislation that permitted home-based firearms businesses, Alex founded Tapos Gunsmithing, LLC in November 2022. What began as a part-time endeavor quickly evolved into a thriving enterprise, transitioning to a full-time career in March 2024. By July 2025, the business had successfully completed nearly 1,000 jobs, filling a local market vacuum and transforming a personal hobby into a professional legacy built on technical expertise and community trust.