The Savvy Shooter Firearms Academy

The Savvy Shooter Firearms Academy operates on a simple principle: proper firearms education changes everything. The instructors don't just teach technique—they teach with the context of their own lives and motivations, which makes the material stick.

Jodi Newton is an NRA Certified Training Counselor and New Mexico Concealed Carry Instructor (#514) who started down this path after armed robberies hit nearby businesses. She took a standard weekend CCW course, got certified, but realized she didn't actually feel trained. That gap became her mission: teach the way she wished she'd been taught—without the intimidation, with real confidence and empowerment.

Her credentials include: - NRA Chief Range Safety Officer - NRA Instructor for Basic Pistol, Personal Protection Inside the Home, and Personal Protection Outside the Home - Top score in Massad Ayoob's MAG-20 Live Fire Course - Executive officer for women's programs with the New Mexico Shooting Sports Association

Gary Newton brings 13 years of Air Force service (pilot and instructor pilot) plus decades of competitive shooting. He's NRA Certified for pistol instruction and personal protection, earned the Distinguished Expert Pistol Marksmanship Award, and has trained hundreds of new shooters since going full-time in 2016. His background includes Appleseed rifle courses, Advanced Pistol classes, and specialized shotgun training.

• •Introduction to Shooting/CCW Courses – Designed by Jodi based on what actually works, not just textbook material
• •Pistol Fundamentals – Building core shooting skills from the ground up
• •Personal Protection (Inside & Outside the Home) – Scenario-based training for real-world situations
• •Skills Builder Workshops – Advanced follow-up courses for shooters who've completed basics
• •Women-Focused Programs – Jodi has organized Lady Appleseed rifle courses, First Shots shotgun workshops, and First Steps pistol classes specifically for women new to shooting

"I wanted to teach in a way that would alleviate the fear of guns, not be intimidating, and provide confidence and empowerment." — Jodi Newton

Both instructors have been active in the broader shooting community. Jodi served as vice president and activities director for The Women's Shooting Connection of New Mexico and contributed to NRA-ILA focus groups shaping shooting programs across the state. Gary has completed advanced training with Massad Ayoob Group and Gil & Vicki Ash's OSP Shotgun School.

Their approach works: students consistently leave with actual confidence, not just a certificate.