About Tactical52

Our experienced training will provide you with the leadership and management skills to handle any situation

In today’s unpredictable and sometimes volatile workplace environment, the ability to quickly manage and defuse a crisis is important in every industry: healthcare, education, retail, communities, houses of worship, government agencies, law enforcement and private security.

De-escalation and Active Shooter training offers a wide range of benefits, impacting individuals, workplaces, and communities.

Our 2-Day leadership training focuses on leadership principles, ethics, communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

Founded by United States Air Force Veteran and former DEA trainer Ken Abrams, Tactical 52 has a team of highly experienced, field-tested De-escalation and Active Shooter experts that can train your company or organization to handle real world crisis situations as they occur.

Core Values:  Ethics, Advocacy & Trust

The Tactical 52 Mission is to serve as a learning platform to deliver these core values to both onboarding and career professionals in every industry. As experienced instructors and educators rooted in law enforcement, we understand that continuing education and training are essential to promoting successful performance on the job. To that end, Tactical 52 courses provoke discussion critical thinking and encourage law enforcement professionals to make ethically sound decisions in this complex, rapidly changing daily environment.

The Tactical52 Difference

Over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, specializing in the training of law enforcement professionals on the local, state, and federal levels.

The Tactical 52 training team will bring this experience and knowledge to your organization and industry. Why hire a team of trainers when you can hire a team of professional law enforcement trainers?

Meet Our Instructors

Ken Abrams, Founder and Senior Instructor

With over 30 years of experience in law enforcement, both in the field and as an instructor, Mr. Abrams founded Tactical 52 to help law enforcement professionals at all levels successfully navigate today’s challenging policing environment.  With an emphasis on professional ethics and values, Ken and his experienced team of instructors demonstrate how to effectively manage real world situations.

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Ken Abrams began his teaching vocation as a Marksmanship instructor for the United States Air Force at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During his military service, he received an accelerated promotion to Non-commissioned officer; wherein as a young Non-commissioned Officer, he led a cadre of instructors selected to give a weapons exhibition and demonstration for a visiting presidential and vice-presidential delegation in 1986.

Years Later he was appointed by the Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons (BOP)

To the position of Federal Correctional Officer. While working for the BOP, his duties included suppling supervision and care for federally housed inmates; including but not limited to, guidance to lower-ranking Correctional officers and staff. During his tenure with the BOP, he supervised a host of high-profile New York-based organized crime family members, notable John Gotti, Russian mafia boss Viktor Ivanov, and street gang leader, Kenneth ‘Supreme’ McGriff and members of his Organization.

In 1998, Ken was selected to attend and graduated from the Drug Enforcement Administrations’ (DEA) Basic Agent training course hosted by the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Following graduation, and throughout the course of his 19-year career; he worked as a DEA criminal investigator in DEA offices in New York, Washington DC, and Baltimore Maryland.

From 2005 through his retirement, he held a collateral Assignment as a Drug Prevention Advocate for DEA in the Washington Metropolitan area, wherein he sat as a non-voting board member for Washington DC Council of Government, and Chantilly, Virginia Drug Treatment and Prevention Community Coalition. Of Significant note, he was a drug/alcohol awareness Town Hall panel member in Fairfax County, Virginia event covered by C-Span and local media outlets.

In 2008, Ken was selected for the position of Instructor/Course Developer at the DEA Training Academy, in this assignment, he taught basic agents about the nuances of being a special agent, with a focused emphasis on the inherent dangers associated with undercover work. During this assignment, he was selected to attend and receive a certification form the Institute For Law Enforcement Administration, Plano, Texas, Ethics, Train and the Trainer Course in 2009. He also served as the public Information Officer – in this role he coordinated public relations activities, events, and media requests for DEA Academy Executive staff and the Training Academy’s community outreach programs.

In 2011 Ken was selected and promotions to the position of Country Attaché; at the US Embassy Bucharest, Romania; while in Romania, part of his duties included working in an International Intelligence Fusion Center, called SELEC. In this capacity, he worked closely and collaborated host and 17 other foreign law enforcement partners to develop strategic drug trafficking initiatives and agendas.

In 2013, he was assigned to the DEA Baltimore District Office; in this assignment he was selected as Supervisor of the Heroin Task Force in Baltimore, Maryland. In this assignment he served as the Team Leader in offices’ partnership with the Baltimore City’s Medical Examiner’s Office, Mayor’s Office, state and local law enforcement agencies, and other stake holding addressing the surge in fentanyl-heroin overdoses in Baltimore Maryland metropolitan area.

March 2023 - Certified Administrator for Everything DISC Behavioral Self- Assessment

Marshal Ward, Major General, USAF (Retired), Senior Instructor

General Ward has over 45 years of military leadership experience in strategic planning, operations, and policy development and over 10 years experience as a senior-level executive in the air and space defense industry.  He currently serves as Senior Advisor for National Security Space at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) in Laurel, Maryland.

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Marshal Ward is a major General, USAF (Retired) with over 45 years of experience of successful senior leadership experience in positions responsible for strategic planning, operations, and policy development. He also has over 10 years of executive-level industry experience leading geographically dispersed, high technology organizations. He served as a senior Advisor for the AF Space Command, the National Reconnaissance Office, and the CSAF Futures Wargames.

He is currently Senior Advisor for National Security Space at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physicals Laboratory (JHU/APL) and guest lecturer on U.S. Space Policy at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering. Prior to joining JHU/APL, Marshal War served as the Chief Operating Officer of Integral Systems, Inc. in Columbia, MD and as the Vice President and General Manager for the Space Systems and Electronics division of BAE Systems, Inc in Merrimack, NH. As an Air Force General Officer, he served as the Director of Special Programs, in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, as Deputy Director of Operations & Training for HQ USAF in the Pentagon, Washington DC, and as Director of Operational Requirements for the Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, CO.

Marshal Ward began his military career as an enlisted Airman in 1966 and earned his commission through the Airman’s Education and Commissioning Program (AECP) and Officer Training School (OTS) in 1969. From 1970-1973, Marshal Ward served as an Airborne Weather Reconnaissance Officer Aboard the WC-130 aircraft and flew into the eye of 16 named hurricanes as a USAF Hurricane Hunter. He earned his pilot wings in 1974 at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma where he received honors as Distinguished Graduate and recipient of the Air Training Command Commanders Trophy. As a C-141 aircraft commander, he participated in several historic military operations including Operations Babylift in Vietnam in 1975; Operation Team Spirit in Korean in 1978; and Operation Desert One in Iran in 1979. He retired from active duty in August 2001 and was awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in meteorology from the Florida State University and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from Auburn University. He is also a graduate of the Joint Services General Officer Capstone Course, the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, the Air Command and Staff College, and the Squadron Officer School.

Marshal Ward is Founder and CEO of Aloha Spirit Consulting LLC, a Space and Defense Consulting company headquartered in Bedford, New Hampshire and is on the Board of Advisors for the Rogue Space Systems Corporation of Laconia, New Hampshire.

Ivan Rios, Senior Instructor

A military veteran and retired DEA Supervisory Special Agent, Mr. Rios is an expert in firearms, and tactical defense. He has conducted combative classes for SWAT teams throughout the Washington DC region. In addition, he has taught tactical courses in foreign countries, including Afghanistan, Thailand, Spain and the Dominican Republic.

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Mr. Ivan Rios is currently a senior physical security professional, a military veteran, and a retired DEA Supervisory Special Agent with over 30 years of experience in protective security, intelligence, military, and law enforcement. He served with the DEA in the Caribbean, Office of Training in Quantico, Washington, DC, and Baltimore, and was a team leader in the DEA Executive Protection Detail, protecting the DEA Administrator domestically and internationally. Mr. Rios served in the DEA Special Response Team and the Quick Reaction Team and executed hundreds of high-risk operations. He also became a DEA Firearms, Tactical, Defensive Tactics, and TEVOC Instructor. Mr. Rios was a board member of the National Capital Region SWAT Association and conducted dozens of Combative classes for SWAT teams throughout the Capitol region, and overseas. In addition, he led numerous drug trafficking investigations. One of the investigations was achieved by intercepting Spanish e-mail communication, which he translated, and led to the extradition of several individuals from Panama. 

Furthermore, he taught many tactical courses in foreign countries, including Afghanistan, Thailand, Spain, and the Dominican Republic. In his final assignment with the DEA, he was the DEA Baltimore Strike Force supervisor. The DEA Strike Force was the lead group focused on violent gang investigations in Baltimore. Before joining DEA, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Special Boat Team operator (Maritime Special Operations) and in the Army National Guard as an intelligence officer. He is a veteran of Desert Shield/Storm. Mr. Rios is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga 3rd-degree black belt, Kenpo 5th-degree black belt, 1st-degree black belt in TKD, 4th-degree black belt in Japanese Jujitsu, holds a BS and MA in Criminal Justice Management, and a 3 Gun competitive shooter.

Rodney Young, Senior Instructor

As a certified DEA instructor and former police officer in Washington DC, Mr. Young has coordinated training and instructed over two thousand police officers in his career, including courses in counter surveillance, undercover operations, interview interrogation and more. He is now bringing this experience and skill set to Tactical 52’s ethics based training program.

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Rodney Young began his law enforcement career as Washington, DC Police Officer and operated in uniform patrol, plain clothes crime suppression, counter narcotics, and district motorcycle patrol.  Mr. Young then moved on to The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) where he served as a Special Agent in Miami, Florida, Assistant Country Attaché in Quito Ecuador - South America, Assistant Country Attaché in Lagos Nigeria, a Special Agent in Washington, DC and finally a Special Agent in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he retired after twenty-five years of service.  As a DEA Special Agent, in addition to investigative responsibilities, Mr. Young was a certified DEA instructor and taught courses for DEA Domestically, in South America and Africa and has coordinated training and instructed more than two thousand agents, police officers, civilians, and military personnel.  Mr. Young instructed courses in Surveillance Counter Surveillance, Undercover Operations, Interview Interrogation, Report Writing, Drug Identification, Telephone Exploitation, and Intelligence Gathering.

Currently, Rodney Young is a Prince Georges County Maryland high school Spanish language teacher.  Rodney has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Spanish language and attended Illinois State university.  Mr. Young is a native of Chicago and resides in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area.

Karl C. Colder, President, Colder Allied Consulting LLC, Adjunct Instructor

From 2013 to 2018, Karl served as Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration,
Washington Division (Retired Senior Executive Service). Karl had 32 years of career leadership and
professional investigative experience with the DEA. He was responsible for managing the Investigative
productivity and leveraging budgetary strategies for a Division consisting of more than 500 personnel
comprised of Special Agents, Task Force Officers, Intelligence Analysts, Diversion Investigators,
Security Specialists, IT Specialists, contract employees, and support staff located in 13 facilities within a four-state region (MD, VA, WV, DC).

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Prior to the Washington Division Office, Karl served as the Deputy Chief Inspector of the DEA Office of Professional Responsibility. In this position, he served in the Senior Executive Service as the principal advisor to the DEA Administrator and the DEA Chief Inspector on all DEA internal integrity investigative matters and led one of DEA’s most sensitive and important programs. Heading that office, Karl ensured DEA’s professionalism, credibility, and longstanding reputation for high integrity was maintained with the public and Congress. Karl was also selected by the DEA Administrator in 2010 to Serve as Co-Chairman of the DEA Diversity Committee (Subsequently served as the committee Chairman 2015 2017) . Karl also held other management and supervisory roles at the DEA.

Currently, Karl is the President of Colder Allied Consulting, LLC. In consultant roles, he serves as the Director of Program Development for Mentor Foundation USA, Law Enforcement Advisor for TAGIT TECH, INC. He also serves in contracting consultant roles to EagleForce Associates, Thompson Reuters, the MITRE Corporation, and other companies and non-profits in support of their mission critical performance and navigation of their technology, platforms, analytical strategy and support.

Karl also collaborates with Communities, Health Providers, Law Enforcement, Non-Profit Organizations and other Federal, State and Local Agencies to provide innovative, evidence-based intervention approaches to prevent and reduce substance use and promote health and well-being. He currently serves in the Episcopal Church as Co-Chair of the Province III Opioid Task Force, Diocese of Virginia Addiction and Recovery Team, and Diocese of Virginia Misconduct Prevention Trainer (Safe Church). Karl serves on The Union of Black Episcopalian's Mental Health Ministry, serves on committee for the West Virginia Council of Churches Substance Use Disorder Initiative. He also has served as the Brotherhood of St. Andrew National Vice President for Recovery Ministry, and was appointed to The Commonwealth of Virginia Secure and Resilient Panel.

Karl earned Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Political Science and Social Relations from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts Degree in Human Resources Training and Development from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. Karl and his wife Sherry have three children and reside in Ashburn, VA.

Tom Golden, Adjunct Instructor

Tom Golden “ Tommy G” started his Law Enforcement career in 1984 as an Officer with the United States Secret Service Uniform Division in Washington DC during then US President Reagan’s Administration.   He spent two years assigned to the White House Branch and one year on Patrol within the Diplomatic community within the Washington DC area.

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In 1987 Tom sought a bigger challenge and applied and was accepted to the Drug Enforcement Administration – the DEA. After successfully completing basic agent training, DEA Special Agent Golden was assigned the Miami Office, Enforcement Group 10. Group 10 was responsible for drug trafficking organizations whose trafficking routes exploited the Caribbean corridor. Agent Golden led and participated in complex investigation that resulted in multiple arrests with significant seizures.

In 1992 Tom was chosen to be one of two DEA Special Agent that conducted training opportunities for law enforcement professional within the state of Florida and the Caribbean. Tom provided numerous presentations thus receiving accolades from all ranks within the Law enforcement community.

In 1995, Tom transferred to the West Palm Beach resident Office where he was assigned to a US Government granted Weed and Seed Task Force. Agent Golden was instrumental in multiple Federal prosecutions associated with the Task Force.

In 1997, Tom transferred to DEA Office of Training in Quantico Virginia, where he coordinated and instructed in a variety of training seminars. His academy assignment included coordinating DEA’s Drug Unit Commander Academy, the FBI National Academy, DEA basic Agent program and other in-service training seminars.

In 2008, Agent Golden was reassigned to the Washington DC Field Division as a Task Force Commander. Commander Golden supervised a specialized taskforce, whose agents work involved international drug investigations.

In 2013 Commander Golden, retired from the DEA and consulted and instructed world-wide for the a specialized Global Training Team based within the corporate efforts of CACI directed by the US Defense Department’s Southern Command located in Tampa, Florida.

On July 3, 2018 Tom was appointed Chief of Police, Keyser West Virginia by Mayor Damon Tillman.

On January 9, 2020 Tom was appointed as Judge of the municipal Courts of Ridgeley West Virginia by Mayor William Shepherd.

Tom holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Adult Education from the University of Virginia. He is married to Gwen Golden “GiGi” a former ATF Commander and they have two adult children. Tom and Gwen reside in Fort Ashby, West Virginia.

Tanya Bilyeu, Adjunct Instructor

After proudly serving for over 25 years at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Tanya Bilyeu recently retired as a Supervisory Special Agent in Nashville, TN. Tanya spent her career in multiple domestic offices serving as a Case Agent, Undercover Agent, Field Training Agent, member of the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and numerous other positions/duties. Her cases took her around the globe and included the first time a federal Grand Jury ever charged a drug trafficker with a terrorism charges. In 2009, Tanya accepted a collateral duty position with the DEA’s elite Trauma Team and was deployed multiple times at a moment’s notice to respond an support spouses, parents and family members after the untimely and tragic death of DEA Agents.

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In 2021, Tanya was promoted to a Group Supervisor position in Nashville, TN and led a task force made up of Agents from the DEA, FBI, IRS, USPIS, National Guard Counter-Drug Intelligence Analysts and local task force officers.

Tanya was honored to be an instructor for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations (TBI) wiretap schools, the 18th Judicial Drug Task Force Basic Narcotics Schools, and has represented DEA on numerous occasions as a guest speaker in corporate America, schools, colleges and parenting organizations.

Prior to career with DEA, Tanya worked for the Abused Substance Education and Training (ASET) Corporation as a Manager of undercover operatives, Recruiter and Trainer in their private academy. Tanya holds degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology and received a certificate of leadership from the University of Virginia.