About Us

Shawn A. Abbatessa is a Certified Firearms Instructor offering professional firearms safety training and skills development for students of all experience levels in Florida. Whether you are a first-time firearm owner or an experienced shooter looking to enhance your skills, Shawn creates a supportive, structured learning environment where safety and competence are paramount. Additionally, as a certified NRA Refuse To Be A Victim® (RTBAV) Instructor, he specializes in personal protection techniques for residence, workplace, and public safety and awareness.

With a distinguished military background as a U.S. Air Force Security Police veteran and a combat-tested leader during Desert Shield/Storm operations, Shawn brings authentic firearms expertise gained from real-world tactical operations. His military training encompasses Urban Terrain Tactics (S.W.A.T.), M-60 Machine Gunner specialization, and Expert Marksman certification, along with multiple military honors, including the Kuwait Liberation Medal and Southwest Asian Service Medal.

Combining nearly six years as Chief of Staff at Brown & Brown Absence Services Group with over 25 years of senior executive leadership—which includes generating over $100 million in sales/marketing revenue, leading teams of over 1,500 employees, and serving as VP of Operations and COO—Shawn presents a unique blend of tactical firearms experience and professional training development expertise. He is also a proud graduate of the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at the University of North Florida.

Shawn's deep community ties in Volusia County, FL, include serving on the Board of Directors of the Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce (2017-2024), receiving the Florida Governor's Service Award (2017), and chairing the Leadership Daytona Alumni Council. As the creator and leader of the Brown & Brown Veterans Team Resource Group (with over 200 members), he remains committed to serving fellow veterans and the broader community.

His courses cover essential topics such as Firearms Safety Fundamentals, Concealed Carry Certification, and Refuse to Be A Victim strategies for home, public, and workplace settings, along with private instruction options tailored for individuals, businesses, communities, and municipalities.

Shawn's teaching philosophy emphasizes uncompromising safety, judgment-free learning, and the development of both technical skills and decision-making capabilities that characterize responsible gun ownership and community safety. He maintains current certifications, liability coverage, and professional development, ensuring excellence in every aspect of his instruction.