By Ashley Dugan, CMP Writer
CAMP PERRY, Ohio – In January, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) welcomed 32 State Directors from around the country to take part in the State Directors Conference – an assembly held every two years to provide an informative look into the CMP and its programs.
State Directors are ambassadors of the CMP whose goals are to boost marksmanship programs within their respective areas through leadership, resources and coordination. The program currently covers 47 states, with some holding multiple directors to further expand their marksmanship activities.
The conference was held Jan. 15-17 at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Port Clinton. Those in attendance had the opportunity to tour the facility as well as to view the world-class indoor electronic air gun range and Laser Shot simulators located within the building.
During the schedule of events, CMP State Directors were treated to several presentations from CMP staff members and officers, including CMP’s current CEO, Jerry O’Keefe. Each discussed ongoing program initiatives and future endeavors, from smallbore to scholarships to sales, and took one-on-one questions from those in attendance. State Directors even took part in an open coaches clinic, led by members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit.
Outside of the Competition Center, State Directors were able to experience other area attractions like the nearby Liberty Aviation Museum, where they gained an up-close view of relics from American history like a World War II B-25 Mitchell Bomber plane. The social at the museum allowed State Directors to take part in dinner and leisurely conversation with peers and CMP personnel alike in a more casual setting, to everyone’s enjoyment.
“I think the Directors meeting was a great event,” said Jason Spaude, Michigan State Director. “For me, personally, it was a great experience to get a better understanding of how different clubs and organizations operate across the country. It also gave a better understanding of the different avenues juniors take to enter the shooting sports.”
Spaude is one of the newest State Directors who took on his role at the end of 2024. He was grateful for the chance to learn more about the marksmanship community’s inner workings in the hopes of creating even more positive opportunities for his own constituents.
“In some areas, local clubs are the main feeder program, while others are JROTC or 4-H programs. They all operate slightly differently, and I don’t have much of a background in that,” he said. “I look forward to taking the info back to Michigan and working with other clubs and organizations to grow the shooting sports in the state.”
Besides obtaining insight into CMP itself, the conference gave participants the unique opportunity to connect and collaborate with other State Directors on their own projects – collectively working toward improving marksmanship efforts around the country.
“I enjoyed the networking with fellow State Directors,” said David Wisman, who also recently joined the State Directors as co-director of West Virginia. “The experience held by those State Directors can tremendously help a new State Director, and the networking afforded by the conference allowed me to meet key members of the group that are in close proximity to me.”
Wisman was particularly eager to learn more about CMP’s Affiliated Clubs and the benefits available to them, especially those interested in beginning their own sporter air rifle programs.
“Those introductions and discussions will provide additional opportunities for me to learn in the future as well. I appreciate this as probably the key fundamental reason that all State Directors should attend this meeting at every opportunity.”
“I thank CMP for hosting this conference, and I am certainly glad I attended. I’m already looking forward to the next one!” he said.
Learn more about CMP’s State Directors, including how to become one or how to contact them about opportunities in your area, at https://thecmp.org/training-tech/state-director/!
The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a federally chartered 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearm safety and marksmanship training and to the promotion of marksmanship competition for citizens of the United States. For more information about the CMP and its programs, log onto www.TheCMP.org.
