Chris Cheng
Chris Cheng is the HISTORY network’s Top Shot Season 4 champion. He was born and raised in Mission Viejo, California, and attended the University of California, Los Angeles for his B.A. in political science; the Monterey Institute of International Studies for his M.A. in international policy studies; and he holds an Advanced Project Management Certification from Stanford University.
Before winning Top Shot Season 4 in May 2012, Cheng worked at Google from 2007 to 2012 in multiple roles: a technical support specialist and manager, a leadership and professional development trainer, and several roles in marketing and sales. Cheng thoroughly enjoyed his time at Google, helping pioneer “cloud computing” before the term became ubiquitous in Silicon Valley. He is an unabashed Apple and Google fanboy.
In addition to the title of “Top Shot,” Cheng won a $100,000 cash prize and a professional marksman contract with Top Shot’s sponsor, Bass Pro Shops. Cheng travels the country competing in 3-gun, USPSA, and IDPA competitions, and appears at Bass Pro Shops stores for special events.
Cheng is part of the NRA News Commentators team where he shares his opinions and perspectives on firearms, the Second Amendment, and American culture. Cheng has attended the annual SHOT Show and NRA Annual Meeting for fan appearances and to show his support for the Second Amendment, along with more than 70,000 attendees.
Cheng is a Staff Writer for The Firearm Blog, where he reviews firearms and gear, and shares his new experiences in the industry. He is also a range officer and member of the Richmond Rod & Gun Club in Richmond, California. Cheng is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and the California Rifle and Pistol Association. He is a certified NRA pistol, rifle, and shotgun instructor. He was a keynote speaker for the NRA Youth Education Summit in 2013 and has donated autographed Ruger and Volquartsen rifles to support NRA-ILA fundraising efforts. He is also featured in the documentary Assaulted: Civil Rights Under Fire, speaking about his support for the Second Amendment.
Cheng has a newfound love and interest in the ethics of hunting as a way of connecting with our food. He is often seen taking San Francisco foodies, chefs, and restaurant owners to the shooting range to share his passion for food and firearms.
Cheng’s hobbies and interests include serving as a volunteer baritone singer for the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, serving on the board of directors for the San Francisco Opera BRAVO! Club, as well as cofounding a nonprofit organization, Home for a Home, which aims to bring social responsibility to the real estate industry.
Lastly, Cheng has been a long-time supporter of HIV/AIDS prevention and eradication, as well as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights. At UCLA, he was co-chair of the UCLA Dance Marathon, where more than 2,000 people raised $54,000 for pediatric AIDS in a 26-hour dance marathon. At Google, he volunteered for corporate diversity initiatives, and he has ridden his bike 545 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles three times and personally raised more than $15,000 for HIV/AIDS awareness and treatment for those in need. He has also donated shooting lessons to the Human Rights Campaign and Horizons Foundation annual Gala silent auctions.
When he’s not doing those activities, Cheng can be seen connecting with the San Francisco food and drink scene, snowboarding, travelling, and finding the next challenge or adventure in life.
Oleg Volk, Main Photographer
Oleg Volk is a creative director and photographer living in Nashville, TN. Since emigrating from the USSR at age 15, he has concentrated on promoting personal freedoms and, chief among them, the right to keep and bear arms. You can see more of his work at olegvolk.net.