About Our Team

Ashley May is currently a Battalion Chief for a large Metropolitan Fire Department in Tennessee. He is a 23 year veteran of the fire service. Ashley currently leads over 45 personnel is daily firefighting duties which include fire, EMS, extrication, Hazardous Material, police matters, and special operations. Ashley has been deployed 2 times to serve as Strike Team Leader for natural disasters in the state of Tennessee where he oversaw the operations of 5 different fire departments from around the state during the operations. 

Ashley is the program director for his agency’s active shooter response training. This includes training of fire, police, and EMS personnel from around the region in response to an active shooter, civilian response, as well as the Rescue Task Force concept. Ashley believes in the program because it can save lives. He has committed his time to gaining the knowledge to be able to implement a program that he so strongly believes in. It is a passion of Ashleys to reach as many civilians as possible with this information. This is why he co-founded Link Defense with Rusty Morrison.

Ashley holds certifications in the following : Emergency Medical Responder, CPR, Hazardous Materials Technician, TCCC, NIMS (National Incident Management System) Command, Radiological Managment, Resource Management, National Response Plan. NFA Incident Safety Officer. Strike Team Leader. NIMS Response to Terroism, Texas A&M CRASE (Civilian Response To Active Shooter Events) AAIR (Active Attack Integrated Response Train the Trainer)

Rusty Morrison is currently a Lieutenant for a large Metropolitan Police Department in Tennessee. He is a twenty-one year veteran of the police department, has been a member of the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team for eighteen years, and currently serves as its commander. He has a variety of police experience to include assignments with patrol, Crime Suppression (proactive directed patrol and gang investigations), K-9, plain-clothes street level drug/prostitution enforcement, serving as a field training officer and supervisor. Morrison is also experienced in a variety of tactical team skills including high-risk warrant service, entry team tactics, hostage rescue, dignitary protection, waterborne operations, advanced tactical rappelling, and critical incident command operations.

Rusty is the program manager for his agency's active shooter response training. This includes the creation of training standards for law enforcement response to active shooter events, civilian response, as well as serving as the program manager of Rescue Task Force response during mass casualty incidents. Additionally, he is responsible for planning and coordinating Rescue Task Force operations for major city events. Morrison believes in providing training that can easily be applied to real life situations. He has a passion for training and mentoring his officers, department, community and the Link Defense family. His real world experience, knowledge and dedication to the protection of property and keeping people safe is why he co-founded Link Defense. 

Morrison holds certifications in the following: Texas State University CRASE instructor (Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events), TCCC (Tactical Combat Casualty Care), American Heart Association Basic Life Support, CPTED (Crime Prevention through Environmental Design), AAIR (Active Attack Integrated Response Train the Trainer), Negations, Command Skill Development, Proactive Leadership Strategies, and High Risk Event Planning. 

Additionally, he is trained in the National Incident Command System, Disaster Management, and Emergency Preparedness, Civil Rights and Liberties, Homeland Security Sharing Information Networks, Anticipating and Planning for Crisis Situations. 

Morrison holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services with a minor in Criminal Justice from Kennesaw State University. He is a member of the NTOA (National Tactical Officers Association), TGIA (Tennessee Gang Investigator Association), and USPCA (United States Police Canine Association.