Mike Skinner retired from the FBI in July of 2015, after serving for over 29 years as a Special Agent. Prior to his FBI career, Mike was a police officer for the City of Ft. Lauderdale, FL., and an officer in the United States Marine Corps. During his career in the FBI, he served in several field offices, including Houston, Tampa, Seattle, Knoxville, Anchorage, and the Hostage Rescue Team. His investigative duties included violent crimes, bank robbery, domestic and international terrorism, fugitives, and gang cases.  In addition to his investigative duties, Mike was also a member of the FBI SWAT teams in those field offices. 

Mike was a tactical operator on the FBI Hostage Rescue Team for 11 years, during which he was involved in numerous high-risk and high-profile tactical incidents. Mike’s last assignment was as a tactical canine handler with HRT.  After attending the U.S. Army Special Operations Canine Handler Training Course at Ft. Bragg, he handled a multi-purpose tactical canine for HRT. Mike and his K-9 partner were deployed across the United States with the Hostage Rescue Team, FBI field offices, and other military and law enforcement agencies.

Mike was also an FBI certified instructor in firearms, defensive tactics, SWAT, emergency vehicle operations, and police tactics. Throughout his career, he provided training to fellow agents, new FBI agents, as well as U.S. and foreign law enforcement and military agencies.

Mike has had the opportunity to benefit from the training and expertise of some of the nation’s premier canine trainers, and as an affiliate of Georgia K9 NTC, he now offers canine training with an emphasis on law enforcement and military units.