Wayne R. Lippert is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis.  During his 4-1/2 year period he served on various small ships, including two tours on large minesweepers off the beaches of North Korea in that "forgotten war."  As executive officer he qualified for command, and did take temporary command of a minesweeper when the captain was no longer able to do so. 

After leaving the military, Wayne Lippert continued his life long interest in military history.  He expanded his interest further by going through the Sheriff's academy at the ripe age of 52.  He then served the Los Angles Sheriff’s Department as a reserve deputy Sheriff for 14 years.  This included time in patrol cars as well as doing horse patrols in the mountains.  He later worked at the pistol range.  He held the highest reserve classification for the State of California (Level One - Designated).  He was certified by the National Rifle Association as a police firearms instructor. He was a practicing C.P.A. in California for over 30 years.  Wayne Lippert is the author of Stay alive: How to street fight with a pistol.

According to Joseph J. Truncale, of the American Society of Law Enforcement Officers, “The author is clearly at odds with the goals and objectives of competition shooting as compared to survival shooting.  He feels that present police training does not focus enough on the type of shooting to survive on the streets.  Police trainers who have the responsibility to provide their officers with realistic and practical methods to survive on the street will want a copy of this very informative manual.”