Matt Hammond
APDA Master Certifying offical
Matt brings over 20 years of experience across law enforcement, military service, and the private sector, with a career built around high-risk operations and mission-critical deployments. Throughout his career, he has operated in dynamic and often unpredictable environments where precision, situational awareness, and sound decision-making were essential.
His background includes extensive involvement in high-threat assignments, supporting operations that required advanced tactical coordination, risk assessment, and the ability to perform under pressure. Matt has worked in roles that demanded not only technical proficiency, but also leadership in complex environments where safety and accountability were paramount.
Transitioning into the private sector, he has continued to apply this experience to security and detection operations, supporting critical infrastructure, large-scale events, and sensitive sites. His depth of experience across multiple sectors allows him to bring a well-rounded, operationally focused perspective to every deployment, with an emphasis on preparedness, professionalism, and effective threat mitigation.
Sean Chaulklin
APDA Master Certifying offical
Sean Chaulklin serves as a Certifying Official for the American Police Dog Association (APDA), bringing more than two decades of experience in explosive and firearms detection canine operations and handler development.
Sean began his canine career in 2000 after attending the Virginia State Police K-9 Explosive/Firearms Detection Academy. In 2005, he completed an intensive four-month instructor course at Moore’s K-9 Training Center focused on explosive and firearms detection training for handlers and K-9 teams.
Since 2005, Sean has served as a K-9 Trainer for the Virginia Division of Capitol Police. From 2013 to 2022, he also served as K-9 Team Leader, overseeing the selection, acquisition, and training of department K-9s and handlers.
Currently serving as both a K-9 Trainer and civilian K-9 handler for the Virginia Division of Capitol Police, Sean continues to dedicate his career to advancing professional detection dog training and supporting the development of reliable, mission-ready teams.
CJ Quarles
APDA Master Certifying Official
Cliatt “CJ” Quarles brings a diverse background in military and law enforcement canine operations, with experience spanning patrol, detection, and tactical working dog deployment. Throughout his career, he has worked in demanding operational environments that required professionalism, adaptability, and a strong understanding of canine behavior and handler development.
CJ is also a certified Georgia P.O.S.T. Instructor and Field Training Officer, where he has been responsible for training, mentoring, and evaluating law enforcement personnel. His instructional style focuses on practical application, sound decision-making, and preparing handlers for real-world situations they may encounter in the field.
Known for his hands-on approach and operational mindset, CJ is passionate about developing reliable working dog teams and helping handlers build confidence, consistency, and effectiveness through realistic training methods and proven experience.
Morgan Sorenson
APDA Certifying Official
Morgan is a training professional with a background spanning both law enforcement and the private sector, specializing in detection dog handling across multiple disciplines. With extensive experience working operational K9s in real-world environments, Morgan has handled and deployed detection teams in high-risk, high-liability settings including critical infrastructure, large-scale events, and private security operations.
Her expertise includes explosive and narcotics detection, as well as training and developing reliable K9 teams built on strong hunt drive, clear indication behaviors, and operational readiness. Morgan’s approach emphasizes practical application, documentation integrity, and risk mitigation—ensuring that every K9 team performs to a standard that is both defensible and effective in the field.
Brian Koester
APDA Certifying Offical
Brian brings a strong foundation of experience from his military service, where he served as a Kennel Master, overseeing the care, training, and operational readiness of working K9 teams. In this role, he was responsible for maintaining high standards across multiple handlers and dogs, ensuring mission capability, accountability, and consistent performance in demanding environments.
Following his military career, Brian transitioned into the private sector, where he has built extensive experience as a detection dog handler supporting a wide range of operations. His work has included deployments at critical infrastructure sites, commercial facilities, and large-scale events, where reliability and discretion are essential.
Brian’s approach is rooted in consistency, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of canine behavior and management. His background as a Kennel Master continues to influence his work, bringing a structured, disciplined perspective to every deployment. With a focus on operational effectiveness and professionalism, he plays a key role in delivering dependable detection capabilities in the private sector.