Joyce Hernandez Appointed SC of Florida
IDPA HQ is happy to announce that Joyce Hernandez from Miami has accepted the role as State Coordinator for Florida.
Joyce is Miami born and raised and joined IDPA in 2019. Despite having a permit and carrying every day since 2011, she had never heard of competitive shooting until stumbling upon a video of someone shooting a stage. She searched for clubs in her area and found her home club in Homestead, FL. Joyce said “I have them to thank for embracing me and providing the opportunities I’ve enjoyed. I also owe special thanks to both Rick Lund and Larry Wheeler, who have been pivotal mentors at my home range, guiding and supporting me along the way. After becoming an SO within my first year of shooting, I became involved with our South Florida Defensive Challenge (SFDC) sanctioned match and began working other matches throughout the country. Since 2022, I’ve had the honor of serving as MD for SFDC, and I became an SOI soon after.”
Growing up Joyce was drawn to shooting young, as she spent time playing Duck Hunt and other shooter games with her older brother. Joyce said that her brother has “been a police officer for over 15 years, and from a young age, he instilled in me the importance of discipline, honor, and determination. We spent countless hours practicing martial arts, and later, bonding over games like Halo and Call of Duty. Today, we train together often, pushing each other to be better shooters, and I credit much of my growth in the sport to those sessions. His influence and guidance have made me the person that I am today.”
Joyce is very excited to take on this role. She is passionate about teaching and helping support shooters in the sport. “As the Florida State Coordinator, I’m particularly excited to work alongside match directors on their stage designs and briefs. I believe a great match truly begins with a strong solid foundation of well-designed stages, and it’s crucial that these are not only safe and within the rules but also challenging and enjoyable for shooters. Achieving this balance enhances match efficiency and delivers a consistent, rewarding experience for all shooters. With this in mind we can ensure that Florida’s matches continue to be top destinations for shooters nationwide as well as globally.”
Please join us as we welcome Joyce to this new position.
