Get to Know Tatiana Whitlock

In part two of our four-part series, we meet Brand Ambassador Tatiana Whitlock and learn about her journey from working in a plastics factory to becoming a premier tactical trainer.

What is your background – tactical and otherwise?

My family is comprised of musicians, engineers, designers, and entrepreneurs. A few of whom hunted recreationally once in a while. Guns were not a part of my life aside from a few cherished memories of duck hunting with my father and brothers. I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BA in Fine Art and Industrial Design and spent the majority of my career in the plastics manufacturing industry – until five years ago when I participated in my very first NRA Women on Target firearms class that changed my career path in the most remarkable and unexpected way!

What inspired you to becoming a tactical trainer?

I didn’t start out expecting I would become a trainer. It happened completely by accident. My love of all things training evolved into being asked to coach new shooters one-on-one. Those requests grew quickly to the point that formal group events needed to start taking place in my home state of Maine as well as around the country.

The inspiration to teach is as a direct result of the enthusiasm and passion that my students bring to each and every event.

Their stories, life experiences, and families are what drive every class, sculpt the curriculum, and hone the message of what it means to be a responsibly armed citizen. I consider it a great honor to have individuals choose to join a class and take their personal improvement very seriously. And let’s face it, training is a ton of fun!

What is your main or primary training philosophy?

Training in context; ensuring that the actions you take with the gun are based on decisions you are prepared to make in the places and spaces that you live in. Building not just good range shooters but growing a community of responsibly armed decision makers.

What is the biggest takeaway you want students to learn?

The biggest takeaway I hope that my students learn is that they are worth it, that their lives and the preservation of themselves and their loved ones is worth the sometimes frustrating, uncomfortable, and incredibly fun process of learning a new skill. The gun is nothing more than an extension of a commitment they have made to protect life.

It’s because of a love of life that the time, resources, and energy put into training to build themselves up is 100% worth it.

Why did you decide to hop on board with Propper as a Brand Ambassador?

The Propper brand has a long-standing legacy of making quality gear. Not only does make rugged gear, but as a company, they are dedicated to evolving, designing, and offering good solutions for the LEO/MIL and every day concealed carriers. I saw a great opportunity to be a part of a solid brand and participate in Propper’s commitment to innovation. Because you can take the girl out of the design studio, but you can’t take the designer out of the girl!

Tell us something about you that readers can’t learn from Google.

I grew up surrounded by bluegrass music! My grandfather, Roland “Smokey” Valliere, was inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame as a founding father of the genre not too long before he passed away. Many an evening was spent in my grandparents’ tiny apartment, watching and listening to kitchen jam sessions with legendary musicians playing that high lonesome sound. It was a magical and cherished part of my childhood.

What are some things you like to do when you’re not training or teaching – fun stuff?

Anything outdoors! Hiking, hunting, fishing, and exploring the Maine coastline with my kids in tow. Acadia National Park is one of my favorite places on Earth. Watching the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the USA that the sun touches each morning, should be on everyone’s bucket list – it is remarkable and majestic!