WHO WE ARE
Spartan Group provides basic and advanced tactical training, proactive security measures, and mission support to government agencies, multinational corporations, and individuals both in the U.S. and abroad.
Founded by members of the U.S. Special Operations Community, Spartan Group personnel are all proven veterans in their respective fields.
Spartan Group personnel have gained their practical knowledge and technical expertise in high-threat and austere operating environments around the globe and offer absolute dedication to their clients.
OUR VALUES
Integrity
Professionalism
Excellence
MEET THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS
Spartan Group provides basic and advanced tactical training, proactive security measures, and mission support to government agencies, multinational corporations, and individuals both in the U.S. and abroad.
Founded by members of the U.S. Special Operations Community, Spartan Group personnel are all proven veterans in their respective fields.
Spartan Group personnel have gained their practical knowledge and technical expertise in high-threat and austere operating environments around the globe and offer absolute dedication to their clients.
Frank Nicholas Rossi - President - Director of Applied Training & Consulting
Frank has been a member of the United States Special Operations community for over twenty-five years and is currently assigned as the Operations (Team) Sergeant for ODA 2233. In 2019, the team completed a six-month Counter Drug/Cartel Mission in Mexico where he was instrumental in directing his Operational Detachment in the training, assisting, and advising of Mexican Tier 1 National Level assets in support of the Mexican War on Drugs.
Prior to his most recent deployment, Frank has completed four combat tours with the US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) in support of the U.S. War on Terror. In 2015, Frank was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve where he served as the Senior Advisor and Committee Chief overseeing the directing, advising, and assisting of the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Force (ICTF) and select Special Operations Coalition units in the ongoing campaign against ISIS.
In 2009, Frank was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom where he served as the senior advisor to Task Force Khowst and the Afghan Tier 1 Unit (6th Commando) Kandak, conducting numerous combat operations throughout southeastern Afghanistan. In 2006, he was again deployed to Afghanistan where he served as a member of the joint USSF/SAS Combat Embedded Advisor Team for the UAE Special Operations Forces engaged in combat operations in the Tagab Valley and Urozgan Provinces.
In 2002, Frank served as the Senior Advisor to the Afghan Counter-Terrorism Pursuit Team (South) conducting special operations missions throughout the Helmand and Kandahar Provinces. As a Senior Weapons Specialist assigned to an “A” Detachment, he has also operated throughout Central and South America where he trained and advised military and police units in counter-narcotics, tactical entry techniques, and various special operations parameters. Frank has also served as the Committee Chief assigned to the Special Operations Training – Detachment (SOT-D), where he was instrumental in the training of US Special Operations forces in Close Quarters Battle, Advanced Marksmanship, Tactical Explosive Entry, and supporting skills.
Frank also possesses over 30 years of specialized law enforcement expertise, having been assigned to the Newark Police Department Special Operations Division where he has served as the Commander for the Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT). The Newark team is one of the most active in the nation, whose missions include counterterrorism, hostage rescue, high-risk warrant entry, and dignitary protection operations.
Frank has served on numerous protection details throughout the US and overseas and has trained Dignitary Protection Units in all facets of the protection mission. He holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Appalachian State University and has been involved in research pertaining to the unique nutritional and physical requirements of the elite special operations force.
Daryl Conrad - Program Director: Advanced Marksmanship
Daryl Conrad is a combat veteran of the US Army Special Forces having served in Afghanistan in 2003 as a Senior Advisor to the Tier 1 Afghan Counter-Terrorist Pursuit Team North operating from the city of Kabul and surrounding regions in the support of the War on Terror.
He possesses extensive weapons and training development experience having served in the capacity of Senior Weapons Sergeant assigned to an “A” Detachment where he was deployed to South America to advise and train numerous foreign military and police special operations forces in counter-narcotics and special operations parameters.
Following his 2003 deployment, Daryl was instrumental in the development of the Special Operations Training – Detachment (SOT-D) serving as a Committee Chief and NCOIC where he directly supervised advanced special operations training to include advanced marksmanship, close-quarters combat, explosive breaching, and limited rescue operations.
Prior to his selection to Special Forces, Daryl was a member of the United States Marine Corps having served with the 8th Marines during the Lebanon conflict. During his service in the Marine Corps, Daryl was also selected, trained, and assigned to a Scout/Sniper Team and later served as a Scout/Sniper Instructor at Camp Lejeune NC.
Daryl also served with the U.S. State Department Anti-Terrorism Awareness program in the capacity of Primary Instructor for the Advance Crisis Response Team tasked with the training and advising of select tier-one foreign law enforcement units in hostage rescue and supporting skills and has also served as a primary instructor for the Federal Air Marshall program.
Assigned in the capacity of Protection Agent, Daryl operated as a member of numerous protection details throughout the US and overseas and has trained Dignitary Protection Units in Counter Sniper and Surveillance Operations. He also served as a senior advisor to the Kurdish Security Forces instructor cadre where he developed and provided training in all facets of the tactical entry mission.
As a key member of the Spartan Group cadre, Daryl has had the opportunity to train and assess tactical police units throughout the United States, Central, and South America, and Western Asia and brings an unparalleled depth of knowledge and experience to the Spartan Team.
John Rynn - Program Director
John Rynn had an extensive career operating in various capacities within the US Army Special Forces, the United States Marine Corps, and the Law Enforcement community. As a junior and senior engineer assigned to an Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA), he trained, assisted, and advised numerous foreign military personnel while on multiple combat tours to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other parts of the world.
John has also been on multiple Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) trips throughout Central and South America conducting Counter Narco-Terrorism training and operations. While with the USMC he served with the 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion in Iraq, Israel, the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Southwest United States (JTF-6). In this capacity, he conducted training, security, and combat operations with numerous foreign allies.
As a member of the United States Army Special Forces, John served as a junior and senior engineer/demo specialist and the Assistant Operations and Intelligence Sergeant. John became an ODA Team Sergeant in 2006 and served as the Team Sergeant for the dive team before attending the Special Forces Warrant Officer Course.
In 2008 he graduated from the Special Forces Warrant Officers Technical and Tactical Certification Course and was afforded the opportunity to deploy as the Warrant Officer/Commander with multiple ODAs throughout Central America and South America. During these deployments, he planned and conducted extensive Counter Narco-Terrorism training and operations with the host nation’s police/military units and worked extensively with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and their host nation counterparts within the Special Investigation Units (SIU).
John served as a sworn Police Officer and Police Sergeant with the Baltimore City Police Department (BPD) for over twenty-eight years. As a member of the BPD, John served for over sixteen years on the full-time SWAT team as an operator, firearms instructor, counter-sniper, explosive breacher, SWAT school instructor, and Police Academy Mobile Training Team instructor.
As a member of the SWAT team, John graduated from multiple schools that include the Maryland State Police Counter Sniper School, Maryland Police Training Commission Firearms Instructor School, and the FBI Firearms Instructor School. He is a certified Maryland Police Training Commission Instructor for Basic and Advanced Police Tactics, SWAT, and Firearms.
Eric Jude - Program Director
Eric Jude has had an extensive career operating in various capacities within the US Army Special Forces. As a senior weapons specialist assigned to an Operational Detachment – Alpha (ODA), he trained, assisted, and advised numerous foreign military and police units throughout the Middle East and North Africa.
In 2002, his team deployed to Kosovo in support of the NATO peacekeeping mission and was assigned to the Polish SOF contingent. During a 2006 tour in Afghanistan, Eric served as a Special Forces Team Sergeant where he directed and supervised the joint USSF/SAS combat embedded advisor team for the United Arab Emirates Special Operations Forces operating in combat support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
He also served as a Team Sergeant in 2009 tasked with advising and leading the Tier 1 Afghan 6th Commando Kandak operating in Wardak and Helmand provinces. Eric has also served as the NCOIC of the Special Operations Training – Detachment (SOT-D) where he directly supervised advanced special operations training and is a graduate of the Special Forces Counter Terrorism Course (SFARTAETC).
Prior to his selection to Special Forces, Eric was a member of the 1st/501 Parachute Infantry Regiment in Alaska and has served as a sworn Police Officer for the Memphis Police Department where he was assigned to their full-time SWAT element.