Mr. Ballis is a nationally recognized expert on school safety and active shooter events.  After his mom survived the attack at Congresswoman Giffords' event in 2011, Mr. Ballis dedicated his life to understanding these tragedies.  He has trained more than 20,000 educators, students, and law enforcement officers in active shooter response.  Pursuing his Ph.D. in emergency management with a focus on school violence, Mr. Ballis presents his research and methodology at law enforcement and educational conferences across the U.S.  He has appeared on numerous media outlets and radio shows sharing evidence-based and trauma-informed school safety solutions.  Mr. Ballis is a nationally certified law enforcement trainer preparing officers responding to mass murder incidents also serving as a consultant and expert witness and active shooter response best practices.

CONSULTING & EXPERT WITNESS CASES

Police Benevolent Association of the City New York, Inc. vs New York City Police Department

Consulted with petitioner on best practices in training and equipping front line officers responding to an active shooter incident. 2021

San Diego County Sheriff's Department vs Eric Noel Dickerhoff

Provided affidavit regarding the conduct of the petitioner's threat investigation and findings related to a Gun Violence Restraining Order. 2020

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

K-12 Keynote Conference

   "K-12 Active Shooters: What We Know", 2021

International Law Enforcement Educators & Trainers Association National Conference

   "K-12 Active Shooters: What We Know", 2021

   Active Shooter/Ambush Expert Panel, 2021          

   "Beyond Run, Hide, Fight", 2019

   Active Shooter Expert Panel, 2019

A Girl & A Gun National Conference

   "The Tueller Theory", 2021

U.S. Law Shield Seminar

   "Active Shooter Survival", 2020

National Tactical Officers Association, Law Enforcement Operations & Conference Trade Show           

   "K-12 Active Shooter: The Knowledge to Win", 2019

California School Board Associations Annual Education Conference 

   "One District's Journey to Safer Campuses", 2019

School Safety Advocacy Council National School Safety Summit 

   "Leadership Panel: A District's Journey to Safer Campuses", 2019

   "Beyond Run, Hide, Fight", 2019

National Church Safety & Security Conference

   "Considerations for Arming a Security Ministry", 2019

PUBLICATIONS

Ballis, M. (2021). Two Decades of School Active Shooter Incidents: What we know. (pending).

Ballis, M. (2021). Beyond the Badge: Preparing for an Off-Duty Encounter. Pg. 22.

Ballis, M. (2021). Supporting K-12 Schools. American Police Beat Magazine. Pg. 16.

Ballis, M. (2021). K-12 Active Shooters: What We Know. The ILEETA Journal, 11(1). Pg. 23-25.

Ballis, M. (2019). Beyond "Run, Hide, Fight" How Trainers Fail their Audience. The ILEETA      Journal, 9(1). Pg. 20-22.

CURRICULUM PROVIDER / ROLL CALL VIDEOS 

Virtual Academy

• High Threat Ballistics Lab, (curriculum)
• K-12 Active Shooter: Mindset to Win (curriculum)
• Building K-12 Options-Based Response Programs (curriculum)
• Consideration of Using Your Vehicle as Cover (roll call)
• Shooting Through a Windshield: Outside of a Vehicle (roll call)
• Responding to a K-12 Active Shooter (roll call)
• Importance of Training Techniques (roll call)
• Advice for Domestic Attacks (roll call)
• Preparations: Responses to Active Violence (roll call)

PM AM HCM Academy Training

• Active Assailant Response (curriculum)
• Terrorism Prevention (curriculum)

PoliceOne Academy

• Children and Options-Based Responses for Active Assailants (roll call)
• Gaps in Run, Hide, Fight (roll call)
• Getting Buy-In from Stakeholders in Active Shooter Training (roll call)