George Pena is a charter member of TCHA. He has been a CHL instructor since 1995, and an NRA instructor since 1980. Besides being a range officer at his local gun club, he and his wife Kathy run their own school, “South Texas Gunslinger,” in Uvalde.
George has been on the board for the better part of ten years and has served in many capacities, including president.

Dean McCormick was born in California in 1949, but with a Texas connection. His dad had been a dust-bowler, leaving Amarillo/Canyon in the late 1930?s. He first got gunpowder in his veins from following an older cousin around on a dove hunt, escaping from a boring family picnic. First formal training was in a police-sponsored rifle club, shooting bullseye with .22 target rifles. After a couple of years with the club, he tested and qualified as an NRA assistant instructor, that being the highest rating available to a shooter under eighteen.
After college in Michigan (don't ask why), and Air Force pilot school in Oklahoma, the Air Force eventually sent him to Bergstrom AFB near Austin. Upon separation from active duty in 1980, he and wife Patricia and two kids, Tony and Stephanie, now adults and on their own (although not quite all of their stuff is out of the garage yet), stayed in Bastrop County, near Austin.
Dean became a CHL instructor in 1995, as part of the initial cadre, and was in on the formation of the TCHIA in 1997. He wrote a proposed draft of the original bylaws, some elements of which are still incorporated in the current document. He's been active in small ways all through the history of the organization, but first ran and was elected to the BoD in 2007. He teaches in his living room and does the shooting at his own range, a pretty Spartan setup 300 yards from his front door. He teaches on weekends, having kept his day job, which is not shooting, police, or security-related.
He's an NRA and TSRA member, almost an "of course," but holds no leadership positions in either organization.

Ron Ryle was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1941. He spent the majority of his career in the oil and gas industry traveling extensively. From 1988 to 2008 he assisted his wife Mary, operating her restaurant and private club in North Dallas until they sold it in 2008. He also worked part time for his CPA from 1994 to 2008. He is a member of the NRA, TSRA and the TCHA.
He and Mary are now retired, enjoying their grand kids and all things "outdoors."

Merle Niemiec has a bachelors degree from Lamar University and received her masters degree from the University of Houston. Her degree is in Computer Science and she is certified to teach computers science and mathematics. She teaches high school mathematics for the Houston School district. She has been a handgun instructor since 1996 and teaches classes with her husband in the Baytown area. They have been on the Board of Directors for the Bay Area Shooting Club, in Baytown, since it was established as a private club in 1994, and has been the membership director for the club since 1997.

Frank Niemiec teaches technology in middle school for Goose Creek CISD in Baytown. He graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a bachelors degree and a received a masters degree from Texas Southern University. His certification is in Technology Systems (Industrial Arts) and he has been teaching 30 years. He helped establish the Bay Area Shooting Club in Baytown in 1994 and has been on the Board ever since. He served as President on and off for eight of the 13 years. He has been a handgun instructor since 1996 and teaches classes in the Baytown area with his wife.