top of page
Meet Our Team
Our mission is to equip wildlife rangers with the knowledge, skills and resilience needed to operate safely and ethically in hostile environments.
Ron Oberhelman
President/CEO
Ron is a former US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent with over 25 years of law enforcement experience and a respected law enforcement & military firearms and tactical instructor. Following his federal law enforcement career, Ron served six years as Director of Training for Focused Conservation and earned certification in the Southern Africa Wildlife College Advanced Field Ranger Course, bringing elite tactical expertise to wildlife protection training. A leader in the development, design, and execution of training programs, he distills complex concepts into easily understood and compelling presentations and drills. As a former Weapons/Communications Sergeant and Sniper in the U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Green Berets), Ron’s exceptional interpersonal skills and leadership philosophy are built on genuine understanding and profound respect for those he mentors.
Joe Kellams
Vice President/COO
Joe is a retired US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Special Agent with over 25 years of federal law enforcement experience, predominantly in international assignments including more than a decade in Africa and three years in the Middle East and Central Asia. Following his DEA career, he remained in Africa as a volunteer ranger trainer, applying his operational expertise to wildlife conservation. A former Infantryman with the 75th Ranger Regiment, Joe served as a Sniper Section Sergeant with multiple combat deployments. His extensive cross-cultural experience and proven ability to deliver effective training in resource-constrained environments make him exceptionally qualified for conservation security instruction.
bottom of page