Matt Harden is the Owner and Lead Instructor at OpTempo Training Group, which he established in 2017. A dedicated law enforcement and military trainer, Harden has trained hundreds of law enforcement and military personnel from multiple states. He has observed and trained with foreign police forces in Israel, Austria, and the Netherlands, and has instructed courses for the California Narcotics Officers' Association (CNOA), MSSTC, and California Reserve Peace Officers Association (CRPOA).

Harden began his law enforcement career in 2007, serving as a Police Officer with both the Union City and Hayward Police Departments, where he continues to serve as a reserve officer. During his tenure, he has held numerous specialized positions including SWAT sniper, SWAT team leader, firearms program supervisor, patrol officer, and plain clothes Narcotics Detective.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Harden served in the United States Marine Corps from 1993 to 2004 as an Infantry Squad Leader. He trained, mentored, and evaluated infantry squads, led a squad during the invasion of Iraq in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and trained Chilean Marines during deployments to South America.

Harden holds an Advanced California P.O.S.T. Certificate and is a graduate of the Direct Action Resource Center's Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism Level 1 & 2 programs. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Science from San Francisco State University.

As a certified instructor, Harden's expertise spans numerous specialized fields including CA POST Firearms instruction, Less-lethal instruction, Chemical agent instruction, Active Shooter instruction, and Ballistic Shield instruction. His professional knowledge extends to firearms program operations, SWAT organization and tactics, and physical surveillance techniques.

Harden's mission is to bridge the gap between theory and practice in law enforcement and military training, fostering a culture of continuous learning, adaptability, and operational excellence. He currently resides in Meridian, Idaho, where he operates OpTempo Training Group.