Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Gilliam.
Eric, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
By Eric Gilliam
I was introduced to firearms at just five years old. My uncle was robbed and shot right in front of me. He survived, but I will never forget the fear and pain in his eyes as he bled. That moment was my earliest introduction to the sound of gunfire and the damage it can cause.
By the time I was 13, a close friend of mine had been shot and killed. That loss changed me. It created a deep awareness that danger could come at any moment — and that no one was coming to save us. Out of fear and the belief that I needed to protect myself, I made a decision that many young men in my community felt forced into: I purchased an illegal firearm at 15 years old. I didn’t do it to harm anyone — I did it because I didn’t think I had any other option. By the age of 19, I was arrested with that gun. That experience showed me firsthand how the lack of legal access, education, and community guidance pushes young people toward the wrong path even when their intentions are rooted in survival.
I grew up in a community where relying on the system came with consequences. I will never forget the Dawson family — a mother, father, and five children — who were killed in their own home after reporting drug activity outside their door. Their house was supposed to be protected by the police. They did everything “right,” yet the system still failed them. That tragedy taught me a hard truth at a young age: you have a responsibility — logically and morally — to protect yourself and your family, because no one can guarantee your safety better than you.
As I began studying police response times and witnessing how many people I knew lost their lives waiting for help, it became clear that relying solely on others didn’t make sense.
While Maryland was still a “may-issue” state, I attended an HGP and HQL class so I could legally protect myself and my family. The only reason I was approved was because I owned a trucking company. At that time, I became the only person anyone knew who legally owned and carried a firearm without being former police or military.
Then my phone started ringing.
Business owners began calling because my name — Eric Gilliam — was circulating in the community as someone who had knowledge and resources about the legal process. In the last nine years, I’ve helped more than 100 business owners become legal gun owners. One business owner asked me why I wasn’t already a firearms instructor. That question made me reflect on the people I had helped, the time I had invested, and the gap I was filling. I realized I had become the solution to a problem in my community.
That’s when I founded Defense360.
Today, I specialize in pistol and rifle training across more than 50 states, and I serve as a Chief Range Safety Officer and active-shooter trainer. Defense360 is also a certified security agency in the state of Maryland. I’ve trained politicians, business owners, celebrities, athletic coaches, firefighters, veterans, mothers, fathers, children, and elders.
In just three years of formal instruction, I’ve earned 5-star ratings on Google and the USCCA and became the #1-ranked trainer on Google in Towson, Maryland.
I have found purpose in helping people become knowledgeable, educated, and skilled. Defense360 approaches safety with a holistic mindset — addressing real-life experiences, laws, and history. Over the last 13 years, I’ve built an ecosystem of resources and a community with true support.
My training meets people where they are. This is my contribution to upholding the Second Amendment.
Frederick Douglass said it best:
“A man’s rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.”
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Most of the obstacles I’ve faced in this business have been tied to changing the mindset of an entire culture. I’m going against more than a hundred years of conditioning in communities like mine — communities told to stay away from guns, taught that “a Black person with a gun is a criminal,” and pressured to fear the very tools that could help protect them. I had to become the example of the good person with a gun. That meant offering free information, showing up in the community, and educating people in spaces where firearms conversations never existed before.
Another major challenge has been teaching people to value quality over price. Some individuals only look for the cheapest option, not realizing that true value comes from knowledge, skill development, accuracy, confidence, and training they can depend on in real life. I’ve even seen people pay for a license but skip the class entirely — treating the training like an inconvenience instead of a lifesaving investment. So a big part of my work has been convincing people not to cut corners with something as important as their safety.
My final challenge has been balancing multiple businesses while continuously investing in myself — sharpening my skills, earning new certifications, and putting in the work required to give my students the best training possible. Growth takes sacrifice, and I’ve committed myself to that process so the people I teach get the highest standard of instruction.
We’ve been impressed with Defense360, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At its core, Defense360 is a safety, education, and empowerment organization. We’re more than a firearms-training company — we’re a full ecosystem designed to help everyday people build confidence, awareness, and the legal knowledge needed to protect themselves and their families responsibly.
I specialize in pistol and rifle training, situational awareness, active-shooter preparedness, and holistic safety education. Defense360 is also a certified security agency in the state of Maryland, which means we operate with the highest levels of legality, professionalism, and accountability. We work with beginners, professionals, business owners, parents, elders, youth, and even advanced shooters who want to sharpen their skills.
What we’re known for:
• High-level, real-world training delivered in a patient, relatable way
• Deep understanding of Maryland firearm laws and the legal process
• A supportive learning environment where people feel comfortable and respected
• Community-focused education shaped by lived experience
• A 5-star reputation on Google and USCCA with top ranking in Towson
A major part of what sets Defense360 apart is that we directly address the myths, fears, and misinformation that have been passed down for generations — especially in communities that were taught to avoid firearms entirely. We debunk false claims, challenge narratives that aren’t rooted in logic or law, and replace fear with facts, education, and empowerment. Many people have only heard fear-based messaging; we give them the full, accurate picture so they can make informed decisions.
But beyond the training itself, Defense360 stands on purpose. I’m not just teaching marksmanship — I’m teaching people how to think, how to legally protect themselves, how to avoid shortcuts, and how to build a responsible mindset that could save their life or someone else’s. Everything I teach comes from real-world experience, community tragedy, and the personal journey that shaped my understanding of safety.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve earned. People know that Defense360 offers training that is honest, thorough, and rooted in real expertise. They know they’re getting more than certification — they’re getting clarity, confidence, and a new level of awareness they can carry into every part of their life.
What I want readers to know is this:
Defense360 trains the whole person — not just the trigger finger.
We teach laws, mindset, de-escalation, safety planning, accuracy, discipline, and real-world decision-making. Our services include HQL training, advanced firearms certification, corporate and church security programs, women-focused safety classes, youth awareness sessions, and full-spectrum security services.
Defense360 is a brand built on truth, community, and empowerment. We exist to give people the safe, legal pathway to protection that I didn’t have access to growing up. And every student we teach becomes part of a larger mission — creating safer families, safer communities, and safer futures.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My advice for anyone starting out is to treat yourself like a business from day one.
Understand every cost that goes into what you do — not just your time and equipment, but depreciation on your gear, taxes, insurance, certifications, travel, maintenance, and everything it truly takes to operate. Only after you know your real expenses can you add your profit margin.
Too many people set prices without understanding their actual cost of doing business. When you underprice yourself, you don’t just hurt your own growth — you weaken the entire industry by lowering standards and creating unrealistic expectations. Take the time to calculate your full operating cost so you can price your services sustainably, professionally, and in a way that respects the value you bring.
Pricing:
- $300
- $250
- $200
- $199
- $149
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mydefense360.com/
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/defense360md?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C4j1oDmjf/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-gilliam-267307283
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@defense360md?si=1C9vSy9MGmAGrYBc
- Other: https://share.google/Qp6lcJnzsHNTLoBK7
