Staff Bios
Meet Our Team
Our instructors are experts in firearms and they will teach you all about firearm safety. Our instructors have several years of experience in dealing with firearms. They are very credible, have an outstanding reputation, and deep commitment to their clients.
Richard Worthey
Chief Instructor
Director of Safety and Training at Golden Triangle Gun Club
Richard Worthey is the Chief Instructor for RW Defense with over 30 years of firearms experience in personal defense, hunting, sport shooting, and competition. He is an NRA Benefactor Member, a Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association, and an active competitor in IDPA and USPSA matches.
Richard is a Rangemaster Certified Master Firearms Instructor and holds multiple instructor certifications, including NRA disciplines (Advanced Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, CCW, and Personal Protection), Texas Department of Public Safety credentials (License to Carry, School Safety, and Security Level III Firearms Instructor), and specialized certifications such as Force-on-Force, OC Spray, Glock Armorer, and Deadly Force Instructor. He also serves as a Chief Range Safety Officer and IDPA Safety Officer.
Committed to ongoing professional development, Richard continues to train with nationally recognized instructors and organizations, including Massad Ayoob, Tom Givens, Dave Spaulding, Karl Rehn, and others. He regularly attends advanced courses and instructor conferences, ensuring his teaching reflects current best practices in firearms safety, defensive use, and responsible gun ownership.
Richard’s approach emphasizes safety, responsibility, and practical skill development, equipping students with the knowledge and confidence to apply firearms skills effectively in both everyday and defensive contexts.
Walter A. Haley
Senior Instructor
Board Director at the Golden Triangle Gun Club in Beaumont, TX
Walt Haley brings decades of experience as a firearms instructor, competitor, and coach. A Life Member of both the NRA and the Texas State Rifle Association, he has served as Head Coach of the Texas Junior Rifle Team and continues to mentor youth as a Director and Coach for the Golden Triangle Gun Club Junior Service Rifle Team.
A U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam (1968–69), Walt earned the Combat Action Ribbon and qualified Expert with the M14, M16, and 1911 pistol. His credentials include NRA Training Counselor, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, and multiple NRA instructor certifications in pistol, rifle, shotgun, and reloading, as well as CMP Master Instructor certifications.
Walt is an accomplished competitor with a history of national and state-level success, including the Governor’s 20 Award, the Civilian Marksmanship Program Distinguished Rifleman Award, and long-standing participation in the National Matches at Camp Perry. He has also served as a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Civilian Instructor, training both military personnel and civilians in advanced rifle and pistol marksmanship.
Dedicated to safety, skill, and sportsmanship, Walt offers students a wealth of practical knowledge and a proven track record in competitive shooting and instruction.
Matthew Godfrey
Staff Instructor
Symmetry Defense, LLC
Growing up in a military family, Matt Godfrey developed a respect for firearms and safety at an early age. Inspired by his grandfather, Army SSgt. Chase Lowry (a Korean War veteran), Matt learned the values of responsibility and discipline that continue to shape his teaching today.
During his own service in the U.S. Army, Matt qualified on pistol, rifle, and shotgun, building a foundation of practical skill and confidence under pressure. After his service, he turned that experience into a mission: helping others become safer, more capable, and more responsible gun owners.
Matt is an NRA-certified instructor in Basic Pistol, Refuse to Be a Victim, and as a Range Safety Officer. He has completed advanced certifications including NRA CCW, Defensive Shotgun, Texas School Safety, ALERRT (Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training), and CRASE (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events). He has trained with reputable national instructors such as Scott Jedlinski, John Murphy, Tim Herron, and Brian Hill. His students benefit from training that blends real-world military experience with nationally recognized instructor credentials.
Matt’s mission is simple: to empower every student with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to handle firearms safely and responsibly. From first-time shooters working toward their License to Carry, to seasoned competitors keeping their edge, Matt provides personalized, effective training that equips students to succeed both on and off the range.
Elias Ibarra
Senior Instructor
Semper Armed Training Academy
lias Ibarra is a security and small arms expert. His instructor experience began in his early Marine Corps career as a Combat Marksman Ship Trainer/Instructor. Since 2011 he has instructed and trained military, law enforcement, and security personnel, as well as the day-to-day civilian, in all small arms disciplines ranging from basic instruction to advanced combat/defensive tactics, and other supplemental disciplines such as de-escalation and defensive tactics.
Elias is passionate about teaching and instruction with an emphasis on the safety required when handling firearms. Currently he owns Semper Armed Training Academy and a munitions company licensed through the Texas Department of Public Safety for Private Security.
“A truly versatile instructor dedicated to the safe and proper use of firearms.”
Instructor and Safety Certifications
- NRA Range Safety Officer
- NRA Pistol Instructor
- Texas Department of Public Safety Certified Private Security Level 3 Instructor
- Texas Department of Public Safety Certified Private Security Level 4 Instructor
