Blue Raven Criminal Justice Academy Instructors

Experienced Professionals in Law Enforcement, Intelligence, and Security Training

At Blue Raven Criminal Justice Academy, we believe that the quality of your training starts with the quality of your instructors. That’s why our team is made up of seasoned professionals with real-world experience in law enforcement, military, intelligence, private security, and executive protection.

Real Experience. Real Instructors. Real Impact.

From local operations to international high-risk environments, our instructors bring more than just certifications, they bring decades of field-tested insight into every classroom, online module, and practical exercise.

Meet the Experts Behind the Training

Our team stands apart with DCJS-certified trainers who bring hands-on experience in law enforcement and intelligence. As active industry practitioners—not just retired experts—they offer real-world insight across private security, investigations, and protection. Above all, they’re committed to each student’s success, both in the classroom and beyond.

Head Instructor

MICHAEL J. NINER
Founder of Blue Raven Inc

With a distinguished 15-year career in Protective Services and Investigations, Michael Niner stands out as a dedicated professional who consistently seeks innovative challenges in the security domain. His rapid and apt response to dynamic situations, combined with his sound judgment and critical thinking, makes him a trusted professional in the industry. Michael’s strong interpersonal and leadership skills further enable him to seamlessly interact with individuals from varied backgrounds.

Michael’s educational journey began at NVCC’s Administration of Justices program, leading him to the esteemed Eastern Kentucky University’s Police Studies program, ranked among the top three Criminal Justice Programs in the U.S. In addition, he is an Executive Security International Graduate, where he was awarded Honors in both the Close Protection Specialist (CPS) and Protective Security Detail (PSD) programs.

His extensive professional repertoire encompasses a breadth of security dimensions, including Investigations (13+ years), Executive Protection (12+ years), Armed Security Officer (15+ years), Supervisorial Roles (15+ years), and Emergency Response (10+ years). Michael’s unwavering commitment to the security sector was evident in his role as the Personal Protection Specialist Representative to the Virginia Criminal Justice Services Board, where he offered counsel on Personal Protection protocols within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

While serving on the board, Michael developed and spearheaded a Human Trafficking training report that recommended training additions on combating human trafficking to be a requirement of all registrants. His proposal was unanimously approved by the board and, in April 2024, signed by Governor Youngkin.

He is currently the CEO and Founder of Blue Raven Inc, a private protection and security provider and training academy servicing the greater Virginia, Maryland, and Washington D.C. areas.

Faculty & Instructors

  • Gene Lacy
    Instructor

    Gene Lacy is one of our BRCJA instructors and the owner of Domestic Security Investigations. He served as a police officer for more than 24 years with two major law enforcement agencies. The majority of his career was spent in investigative and leadership roles, including Investigator, Detective, Detective Sergeant, Detective Lieutenant, and Commander of the Criminal Investigation Division.

    Throughout his law enforcement career, Mr. Lacy conducted countless investigations involving crimes against persons and property and interviewed hundreds of victims, witnesses, suspects, and police officer applicants from all walks of life.

    He also served as the agency’s Training Officer, coordinating administrative activities to support the police academy’s new officer and in-service training programs. In addition, he was a Lead Instructor in firearms training, use of force, officer safety, criminal law, and criminal investigations.

    For more than twenty years, Mr. Lacy has also worked as a contract investigator and instructor, certified by state and nationally recognized organizations to provide instruction in a range of areas including, but not limited to, security officer core subjects, private investigation, arrest authority, personal protection, and firearms.

It’s Time to Learn from the Best to Become Your Best

Whether you’re new to the industry or advancing your career, our team is here to support your journey with professional insight, relevant training, and unmatched real-world perspective.

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