Steve “Zane” Stoops spent the last 19 years as the Senior Combat Assault Dog Trainer (CAD) for the United States Joint Special Operations Command-JSOC, assigned to the 1st SFOD-D, located at Ft. Liberty, NC (retired January 2024.) He and a very small and exclusive group of Special Operators are innovators and developed many K9 training philosophies utilized today by the most elite SOF tactical working dog programs throughout the world. Steve actively handled these dogs in numerous combat situations facing fire fights, suicide bombers, and IEDs.

Steve’s K9 career started while serving 15 of his 20 years as a Police K9 Officer (including SWAT Team member and SWAT dog Handler,) in Anderson, Indiana, after serving in the United States Marine Corps as a Security Specialist at U.S. Embassies throughout Europe and South America. While serving as a K9 Officer, Steve experienced numerous violent encounters with suspects including Officer involved shootings and edged weapon attacks and was responsible for numerous narcotics seizures with his K9s. Steve received four Combat Crosses for valor.

Retired FBI Special Agent with 23 years of service and 30 years of K-9 related experience. She has completed hundreds of field missions with her K9s for the FBI and local law enforcement both professionally and as a volunteer. Her K9 deployments with the FBI ERT included supporting kidnap/homicide investigations throughout the Western United States, in high threat locations within Mexico, in the Middle East, and several disaster scene deployments to include the Pentagon after the 9/11 attacks. She has also deployed to Europe, assisting to locate the remains of WWII MIA soldiers.

Sonja earned her Detector Dog Trainer's Certification from Vohne Liche Kennels in 2003, later developed a 40-hour CA P.O.S.T. Cadaver Dog course for LE K9 Handlers, and in 2022 became a Utah POST Detector K9 Instructor and Judge for Narcotics, Explosives, and Cadaver K9s.

Owner of Tier One Eagle Tactics Inc.

Instructor and veteran with 28 years in the US Army - 23 of those years in Special Operations,

Shooting instructor for the Operator Training Course (OTC).

Completed multiple combat tours and missions throughout the world involving direct action, special reconnaissance, advance force operations, foreign internal defense, and dignitary protection.

Held leadership positions as an Assault Team Leader, Sniper/Recon Team Leader, and Canine Team Leader in charge of 6 Canine Teams during numerous combat rotations.

Recipient of seven Bronze Stars, two of which are “V” device for Valor and two Purple Hearts.

Retired US Army Special Mission Unit Operator, K9 Handler.

Served more than 20 years in Army Special Operations including 12 years as a Green Beret working as a Special Forces Medical Sergeant and as an Operator from the US Army Special Mission Unit.

Served as an Assaulter, Master Breacher, Sniper, Operations Sergeant Major

Completed 10 combat deployments as part of the Global War on Terrorism in both overt and covert roles.

Since retiring, has worked in the civilian sector as special operations K9 project manager, tactics and shooting instructor, assault climbing instructor, and as a contract trainer for BORTAC team, Naval Special Warfare Training Group 2, 75th Ranger Regiment, and multiple law enforcement agencies.

Founder and CEO of the company Dogscout- Germany, since 2010.

In 1999, after spending many years involved in Schutzhund, Thomas started his professional K9 career with the German Army (Bundeswehr SDstHundeBW). In the beginning, he was a trainer for K9 patrol dogs. Over the years, he worked as a trainer in different departments at the K9 School for Military Working Dogs in Germany and later became the head trainer of the EDD department and Special Operations Forces (SOF) training classes.

Altogether, Thomas spent fifteen years at the “Schule fürdas Diensthundewesen der Bundeswehr,” Currently, his dogs are working in many police departments in Germany and others around the world ~ Supporting SOF and SWAT teams, as well as Police/Military departments is our daily business.