The IEP TEAM
Our "Why"
We are in the pursuit of serving those who tirelessly serve us and provide an opportunity to enhance the abilities of each individual and every team as a whole through the three pillars of
Performance, Readiness, and Longevity
Jake Labhart
Jake, a former Army Airborne Infantryman, founded In Extremis Performance after his military service. Focused on law enforcement special operations units at all levels, he has spent the last 5 years primarily with federal teams, creating human performance programs to boost effectiveness and longevity. With a Doctorate from Campbell University, Jake designs research- backed fitness tests and shooting assessments for operational units while developing training pipelines. Actively involved in the tactical and human performance industries, Jake serves on the TTPOA board and spearheads a health and wellness initiative for Texas law enforcement.
Jacob Heppner
Jacob Heppner, originally from California and later a college football player in the Midwest, discovered his passion for Crossfit during his final year of college. Competing in five Crossfit Games from 2014 to 2020, with three Top 10 Finishes and a best of 6th place in 2019, Jacob transitioned to entrepreneurship after his competitive career. Between 2020 and 2022, he ventured into successful fitness and technology companies while also diving into The Tactical Games, where he placed 2nd in his first year and is currently the back-to-back defending National Champion. Combining his love for competition and helping others, Jacob thrives in sports that challenge fitness and skill levels.
Aaron Dugger
A Texas native, Dugger collaborates hands-on and remotely with Federal, State, and Local LE Special Operations Teams. With almost a decade of experience in Division 1 and Division 2 collegiate football Strength and Conditioning, including stints at Oklahoma State, Memphis, and Southeastern Oklahoma State, he brings a wealth of expertise in training high performers in dynamic settings. Holding a Master's in Applied Exercise Science from Oklahoma State University and certifications from CSCCa and NSCA, Dugger's commitment to LE Special Operations shines through his continuous pursuit of enhancing human performance.
Scott Howell
Scott Howell, host of the Iron Sights Podcast and CEO of Red Dot Fitness, Inc., brings over 25 years of expertise in the health and fitness industry. With a passion for holistic preparedness in physical, mental, and practical skills, Scott's journey includes learning from experts in civilian, law enforcement, military, and first responder communities. Through his podcast, he aims to expand listeners' capabilities and knowledge, fostering a community focused on shared goals and values of preparedness and growth.
Preston Peavy
Raised in small-town Texas, Preston Peavy enjoyed hobbies of hunting and shooting beginning at an early age. After obtaining a bachelor's degree at Texas Tech University he began his Law Enforcement career at a Texas municipal police department. Now approaching his eighth year in the field, Peavy is currently assigned to the Gang Unit and a member of the part-time SWAT Team. Preston is an advocate for the continuation of training and prides himself on being a professional student. This is denoted by the training he regularly attends and classes he instructs including Red Dot Pistol, Basic and Advanced SWAT Firearms, and Patrol Rifle. Peavy was a participant in the first-ever Tactical Performance Lab through IEP held in Garland, TX.
Sal Hernandez
Sal Hernandez has been a police officer for 11 years and has been assigned to a full-time SWAT team for the past 6 years. In addition, Sal competes yearly with his team at the TTPOA SWAT Competition as well as the SWAT Round-Up Competition held in Florida. Sal also competes in The Tactical Games and has podiumed in 16 TTG Events in the Men’s Elite Division, as well as finishing 3rd at the 2022 National Competition. Sal is consistently pursuing further training and education in both LE and TTG aspects and enjoys giving back to the community by helping his fellow officers and competitors. He holds many certifications and regularly instructs for both TCOLE courses and The Tactical Games courses.
Luis Macias
Macias began his law enforcement career at the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office in 2011, where he began as a Patrol Deputy. In 2016, he became a part-time member of the MCSO SWAT. In 2017, Macias became a full-time member of the MCSO SWAT team, where he currently acts as an Assistant Team Leader. He is also assigned to the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force as a U.S. Marshal Special Deputy. Macias is also a graduate of DARC LECTC-1, LECTC-2, and Desoto County, MS, SWAT School, where he is currently completing the instructor development program.
Aaron White
Aaron has worked for the Georgetown Police Department since 2007. During that time, he has been a patrol officer, school resource officer (2012-2013), patrol sergeant (2013-2018), and patrol lieutenant (2018-current). Currently, he supervises 14 patrol officers and 4 sergeants. From 2010-2015, White was a member of the Georgetown Emergency Response Team before it was disbanded and replaced with the Central Texas Regional SWAT (CTRS) team. Since 2015, he has been in leadership both as an Assistant Team Leader and the Team Leader with CTRS. Aaron is also the head pistol instructor for the department and a senior firearm instructor for CTRS. Prior to Law Enforcement, White graduated from Texas State with both a Bachelor's and Master's in Exercise and Sports Science in 2003. He taught at Texas State as a Graduate Assistant from 2003-2004, and as an Adjunct Lecturer in 2005. He uses his education as a fitness instructor for Georgetown Police Department and has also designed one of the two department gym facilities.
Jordan PanKratz
Specialist PanKratz began his law enforcement career with Midland Police Department (MPD) in Midland, TX, after graduating from the Permian Basin Law Enforcement Academy with his Basic Peace Officer license in 2011. PanKratz continued working for MPD for over 3 years, then in 2014, he began working for Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office. During his 12 years of service, PanKratz has obtained several certifications including, Intermediate Peace Officer license, Basic Instructor, Advanced Peace Officer, Basic SWAT Operator, Advanced SWAT Operator, Firearms Instructor, DARC Counter Terrorism Level I & II, Mechanical and Ballistic Breaching Instructor, ALERRT Instructor (Level 1, AAIR, ERASE, FRM, SORD), and his Master Peace Officer license. Before joining law enforcement, Specialist PanKratz was awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.
Chris Gaines
Chris is a highly driven Physical Therapist, who aspires to provide athletes the tools they need to perform at their highest capabilities. He completed his Doctorate in Physical Therapy at Texas Woman’s University in Houston Texas in 2013, followed by completion of Houston Methodist Sugarland’s Sports Residency 2014, and OPTIM Manual Therapy Fellowship in 2017. Chris continues to be active in each of these programs, he currently is faculty and mentor for the residency and fellowship he completed, as well as being a clinical instructor for DPT students as often as he is able. Chris has a passion for working with CrossFit, combative, and tactical athletes. Chris’s mantra in life and practice is from Cameron Hanes’ book Endure, “ If you are not the hardest working person you know, you are not working hard enough. An outlier will never allow someone to outwork them.” He draws on his own experience as an athlete and years of training in sports physical therapy to provide the best treatment plan for his athletes; to restore function, build resiliency, keep them in the fight, and promote longevity to have a long, healthy career.
Chris Quach
Chris Quach, an Army Aviation veteran, has been in law enforcement for over twelve years in Texas. He currently serves on patrol and SWAT as an explosive breacher, less lethal instructor, firearms instructor, and founded the agency’s UAS program. He currently uses his photography and videography skills to serve as the social media director for the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (TTPOA) as well as In Extremis Performance.
Joe Lopez
Joe Lopez has been a police officer for a major metropolitan police department since 2008 and has been assigned to a full-time SWAT team since 2017. Joe’s roles on his team range from entry, sniper, negotiator, breacher (manual, ballistic, and energetic), HAT team (high-angle team), aerial platform, and Part 107 Drone Pilot. Joe competes with his team annually, in the TTPOA SWAT competition and is always trying to advance his education in law enforcement as well as in physical fitness. To date, Joe holds numerous certifications in his profession and has run over 1,000 plus SWAT operations from Dynamic warrants, hostage rescuers, and barricaded person callouts as well as dignitary protection details.
Kolton Pirkle
Kolton began his law enforcement career at the Lubbock Police Department in 2015. He has been on LPD’s part-time SWAT team since 2018 and he is currently assigned to a plain clothes Crime Suppression unit. Among other various shooting events, Kolton competes annually with his team at the TTPOA SWAT Competition and the Florida SWAT Round-Up International. Not only is Kolton passionate about training and attending courses to improve his own knowledge and abilities, he also feels very strongly about helping to raise the overall skill level and tactical readiness of the Law Enforcement community as a whole.
Skye Wingo
Skye Wingo began his law enforcement career in 2010 with Clute Police Department before advancing in 2013 serving as an operator and breacher with a combined agency team. In 2014 he transitioned to the Lake Jackson Police Department where he promoted through to Patrol Sergeant and Team Leader for the agency’s tactical unit and regional agency team. Wingo is currently a Lieutenant with Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office under the patrol division and oversee the Specialized Enforcement Unit which includes the Crime reduction team, K9 team and Commercial motor vehicle enforcement. Additionally, Wingo is currently the Team Commander over the Special Response Team as well as the fitness coordinator over the health and wellness programming. He's deeply passionate about bridging the gap between law enforcement and physical fitness and dedicates a large amount of personal time to the profession and fitness principles specific to job readiness
Dominick Meza
Originally from the city of Mesquite, Dominick is a proud native Texan. He grew up the son of a police officer, and a baseball player, and always enjoyed shooting and physical fitness. He attended Central Baptist College in Conway, Arkansas under a baseball scholarship before transferring to Sam Houston State University where he embarked on his journey into boxing and MMA. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, he began his career with the Mesquite Police Department in June of 2021. In October of 2022, he was selected for the MPD SWAT team and is currently assigned as a Breacher. His other assignments include Patrol Operations, Field Training Officer (FTO), Deployment Unit, and Defensive Tactics Instructor. Dominick takes pride in always pushing himself in training to be a dependable and trustworthy operator.
