J. Kelly McCann, who also uses the pseudonym Jim Grover, is a former US Marine officer and the founder and former owner of Crucible Security Specialists located in Fredricksburg, Virginia. Crucible is a GSA approved facility which provides high-risk environment training and security services to the US Government and armed forces. McCann is a writer and has appeared as a commentator on US Cable News Channels such as Fox and CNN. In 2012 McCann created the Kembativz Brand, LLC with Michelle Washington. The company focuses on teaching individual protective measures to civilians and corporate clients. Kembativz Brand still includes several government agencies and law enforcement organizations among their clients. Kembativz Brand has conducted training across the US and internationally for various groups, agencies, corporations and LEO's.
Background
While serving in the United States Marine Corps, McCann was responsible for standardizing all hostage recovery tactics and equipment, and training all counter-terrorist forces. McCann's techniques are drawn from his own experience in the Marine Corps as well as Rex Applegate. McCann holds a Master Instructor rating in combative skills and is a subject-matter expert in close combat for the U.S. Marine Corps; close quarters battle for the Office of Naval Research; protective services for the United States Department of State; apprehension avoidance for the Joint Personal Recovery Agency, and high-risk environment tactics, techniques and procedures for the Department of Defense. He assisted local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in developing raid techniques for use against domestic hate groups prevalent in the Midwest from 1984 to 1986 while assigned to Omaha, Nebraska. His contributions earned him police commendations and he was inducted into the Governor's Great Navy of the State of Nebraska for service and assistance to law enforcement by SenatorBob Kerrey. McCann was prominently featured in an article for Esquiremagazine written by Tucker Carlson, whom he escorted through Iraq after the 2003 invasion. McCann was featured on the cover of the June 2008 issue of Black Belt Magazine in a two part article continued in the July issue and was voted Black Belt Magazine's "Self-Defense Instructor of the Year" for 2008. In 2010 Black Belt Magazine began running a monthly column written by McCann titled, "Mil-Spec", which explores various aspects of Combatives detailing mind set, physical skills, personal security and awareness and avoidance skills. McCann has made numerous appearances as a commentator on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. McCann has developed two knife designs, one with Blackhawk Masters of Defense known as the Crucible II. The other design was unveiled in January 2011, at the SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV, in collaboration with Ernest Emerson, the model is known as the Canis.
