Safer USA

Staff Biographies

David Lombardo

David is the president and founder of SAFER USA, a Chicago-based firearms training school. Founded in October 2006, SAFER USA has trained over 8,000 beginner, advanced, concealed carry and tactical students.

As president of On Target Media Group, he wrote the free weekly industry newsletter On Target Newsletter for over five years. Beginning September 2012, David began executive producing and co-hosting On Target Radio, a live weekly broadcast radio show on Chicago’s #1 conservative talk radio station – AM560 THE ANSWER. Together with co-host Gretchen Fritz, they cover the red meat issues that affect your life from gun control to freedom of speech. David is also anchor for The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s SHOT Show TV in Las Vegas, a regular contributor to the print publication, The Illinois Shooter, and was previously a columnist for Town Hall Media’s BearingArms.com

David is the founder and principal of SAFER USA Consulting Group (www.guntestimony.com). His nation-wide consulting and expert witness practice in both civil and criminal litigation focus on systemic safety management systems and standard operating procedures; The design, maintenance, operation, use and human factors interface of firearms; Shooting range and club (including IRS 501C non-profit) management; and Training program design and implementation.

David is an NRA Training Counselor and Instructor, Chief Range Safety Officer, Illinois Certified Firearms Instructor, Illinois Concealed Carry Instructor, NRA Law Enforcement Instructor, has an NRA Range Development and Operations Certificate, was one of the original NRA State of Illinois Youth Camp Coordinators, an NRA Distinguished Expert Marksman – Handgun, Utah Concealed Carry instructor, and specializes in the use of lethal force, personal protection in the home, and close quarter engagement tactics. He is also a past IHEA Master Instructor and a lifelong upland and waterfowl hunter.

For 2011 to 2020 David was president of the 2,500-member, 283 acre Aurora Sportsmen’s Club where he brought the club out of near bankruptcy to make it one of the country’s best shooting facilities. David is Vice President of the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA), Chairman of the Will County Grassroots Chapter of the ISRA, a past member of the Fox Valley Friends of the NRA committee, an endowment life member of the NRA, and Life member of the ISRA.

David is president of SAFER USA Outreach Fund, NFP, an IRS 501C3 not-for-profit company focusing on firearm training for women, minorities, young people and persons with disabilities. He was also the executive Director for SAFER USA Outreach Fund’s Annual Clyde Howell NRA Youth Shooting Sports Camp for kids 10 to 16 which was offered for 20 years.

David joined the Army and volunteered for service in Vietnam where he was assigned to the First Infantry Division’s medical corps. He was also briefly in the Navy and has a total of 20 years as an armed auxiliary deputy sheriff in two states.

During the fifteen years leading up to his retirement in 2016, David was a senior editor for Aviation International News where he covered business aviation worldwide, was an investigative journalist and did extensive personality and corporate profiles. He was also executive producer, writer and anchor for AINtv producing live news coverage of the major airshows around the world including the Paris Airshow, Dubai Airshow, Singapore Airshow, European Business Aviation Conference (Geneva) and Asian Aerospace (Hong Kong). He has over 1600 articles published with his byline appearing in 45 periodical publications and has written four refereed journal papers. During his tenure at AIN he amassed over 1.7 million airline miles traveling all over the world on assignment. 

In 1989 David won a journalism award from the Aviation/Space Writers Association for his first book, “Aircraft Systems: Understanding Your Airplane.” He has since published two other books which have been translated into Chinese and Spanish. Since 2005 David has been runner up for the International Aerospace Journalist of the Year award six times making it the most expensive free dinner in Paris you will ever eat.

David was also a research pilot and taught aviation as a university Professor and Academic Dean at three different universities. He spent two years at The Second City, Chicago’s famous improve venue, worked as a comedic actor for 10 years in the ‘90s, and is a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.

Ed Janka

Ed is an NRA Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun instructor and Range Safety Officer. He is on the Board of Directors of the Aurora Sportsmen’s Club and chairman of the 600 Yard Range committee. He holds expert ratings in High Power and Mid-Range, and has competed in the NRA High Power National Matches at Camp Perry for almost two decades. Ed is a U.S. Army veteran.