Our Team
Daniel Harrington - Founder & Director of Training
Mr. Daniel Harrington spent over 11 years in the Marine Corps, both reserve and active duty. He worked several years as a Primary Marksmanship Instructor in the Marine Corps. He assisted in implementing the Enhanced Marksmanship Program (now the Combat Marksmanship Program) in 2005 and 2006 for his battalion during pre-deployment training.
In mid-2003 until mid-2004 Mr. Harrington was the Marine Liaison for his unit and the Center for Anti-Terrorism and Naval Security Forces (San Diego Detachment) where he assisted staff in Force Protection training, Shipboard Security and Maritime Interdiction Operations training.
Mr. Harrington left the Marine Corps in 2004 and was recruited to work as a civilian contract employee as an Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection Instructor for the Department of the Navy. During this time period he taught several courses in Anti-Terrorism, Force Protection, and Maritime Interdiction Operations. He was part of a small team of instructors who developed and implemented a specialized breachers course in San Diego for the U.S. Navy, for personnel who were assigned to conduct Non-Compliant Visitation Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) operations. While working there he also obtained another Military Occupation Specialty rating as a Navy Small Arms Marksmanship Instructor.
In just over a year, he was recalled back to the Marine Corps, joined a unit and deployed to Iraq. He was part of a Personal Security Detail in Iraq. Two months after his team started this mission, he and 14 other hand picked Marines were reassigned to be advisors on a Police Transition Team for Regimental Combat Team 7. His Team was integrated with an ODA team from 1st Special Forces Group. During that time period his team along with the ODA, we were tasked to recruit and train Iraqi Police forces. Sgt Harrington and his team also supported the ODA team on counter insurgency operations to include “capture and arrest” High Value Targets (HVT) including members of Al Qaeda.
Sergeant Harrington and other Marines were severely wounded during combat operations on July 6, 2006. As a result of his wounds he spent close to 2 years recovering at various military hospitals. While still a patient in Nov 2007, Navy and Marine Corps staff at Naval Hospital San Diego, tasked him to personally train and qualify Rear Admiral Hunter and her staff for pre-deployment weapons qualifications.
Sergeant Harrington was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2008. He went back to work as an Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Instructor. He taught various Anti-Terrorism courses in Force Protection, small arms, small unit tactics, and mechanical breaching to both enlisted and officer grade personnel.
In the past two years Mr. Harrington obtained several NRA instructor ratings such as Pistol, Rifle, Personal Protection Inside the Home, Personal Protection Outside the Home, Range Safety Officer, Chief Range Safety Officer and NRA CCW Instructor.
He currently teaches some courses to civilians however it is limited. Most clients find him through word of mouth. Aside from working contracts, he also volunteers his time and expertise assisting police firearms instructors for a few northern California bay area law enforcement agencies. He often assists individual officers who are striving to become better shooters. He also assists various military personnel in becoming better shooters and small unit tacticians. Mr. Harrington also volunteers his time assisting disabled veterans. Mr. Harrington is committed in providing realistic and life saving training to the men and women who wear the uniform, both military and civilian law enforcement.
Mr. Harrington’s military awards include the Purple Heart Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (2nd Award), Global War on Terrorism Service Award, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Marine Corps Combat Action Ribbon, Rifle Expert (3rdAward) and Pistol Expert (3rd award).
Mindy Giffin - Business Manager
Matching students to experts and loving every moment of it!
Mindy considers herself to be one of the lucky ones. She gets to help people looking to gain self-defense skills by helping to partner them with a security expert!
Whether supporting the build-out of a company security strategy, providing tactical on-site assistance, or just watching men and women learn the skills to protect themselves and the ones they love, Mindy feels blessed every day that she gets to support such great work.
Over her 20+ year career in business management, she has worked for several billion-dollar companies, but says this is the first time she has ever worked for a company with true heart, that is authentically there to help others help themselves. Security and defense have become huge passions of Mindy’s since working with Harrington Concepts, and she is happy to help bring these programs directly to you all! She also can’t wait to meet you all!