Ron Avery – President & Director of Training – PSA PRO Team Captain

Ron Avery - President/Director of Training and PSA PRO Team Captain

 

Starting at the age of 5, I began my firearms training with my father and those are some of the most cherished memories I have growing up. I have been shooting in one form or another since then and have been studying firearms related topics for most of my life. It gives me great pleasure to be able to present training on a wide variety of shooting related topics that I truly love and that represent the many interests I have as a shooter, trainer and outdoorsman.

Most people that know or have heard of me know me as a world class competitive shooter. I have been doing that for 32 years now.  Wow! It just doesn’t seem that long!

What you may not know is that I actively served as a law enforcement officer in both an active and reserve role for over 25 years. Most of my experience is in Colorado where I served as both a deputy sheriff and a police officer. I also served in the extreme arctic of Alaska for a year in a backcountry law enforcement job.

I preferred to work the street and did so for my entire career. The knowledge and experience I gained from that experience has served me well in both my personal life and my professional duties as a trainer. I also preferred to work as a deputy sheriff in the great outdoors of Colorado although I did work as a municipal police officer for a number of years.

 

During my active duty time as a law enforcement officer, I wore several hats. Some of the roles I filled were:

 

• Program Director and Lead Instructor – Tactical Firearms, Patrol Tactics

• Program Director and Lead Instructor – Defensive Tactics/Arrest and Control Program Design

• Firearms & Tactics Program Design Consultant

• Lead Trainer – Officer Survival Instructor

• Primary Designated Marksman/Sniper

• Firearms Expert Witness

I am SWAT trained in addition to receiving training in other aspects of program development and management and was part of a response force should that need arise.

 

Training Leader

As a program manager, lead firearms and use of force trainer, I designed, developed and maintained many different programs, training courses and other curriculum over the years. I found I had some talent in this area and soon I was developing training and programs for other agencies and institutions.
As I became a world class competitor and internationally recognized trainer, I started getting more and more requests for training and consulting work. One thing led to another and I founded The Practical Shooting Academy, Inc. in 1989.

I have been a trainer and consultant to all branches of the military, select government agencies, hundreds of law enforcement agencies and countless clients in the private sector for over 31 years now. I attend law enforcement conferences and conduct training sessions as a guest instructor as time and schedule permits.

It has been extremely satisfying to work with others for the benefit of the people of the United States.
Shortly after the terrorist incident on 09/11/2001, I was called in as a consultant for the United States Secret Service to revamp their firearms training program in order to modernize their program and help their many agents better do their jobs as well as help them protect the president and others they are assigned to.

It was my honor and privilege to work with some of the most quiet, professional people in the US and teach them a new program, which they have adopted as their firearms training program and are currently using.

I also did consulting work for the US Air Marshal Program as a Master Trainer, training a special training cadre that taught new air marshals at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, NM.

I continue to train and consult on different programs for all kinds of agencies and organizations in addition to my regular duties managing this Academy.
Martial Arts Background

I believe the study of firearms is a martial art and merging firearms training with martial arts principles and concepts is the correct way to teach and train tactical and defensive firearms programs.

I started my martial arts training at the age of 16 and I am an active martial artist with many years of training experience in various martial arts as well as being trained in different law enforcement, military and civilian oriented self-defense and arrest and control training programs.

I continue my martial studies in various martial disciplines as I bring my street and training experience into my academy. I also have the great fortune of training and networking with top level trainers and keeping my skills up to date as well as inviting other trainers to work with our Academy for the benefit of all.

Competition Shooting

In 1981, I started shooting competition, International Practical Shooting and other disciplines, as a way to hone my gun fighting skills as a law enforcement officer. I recognized early on that these skills separated superior performers from average gun carriers.

The skills I learned and honed in competition as well as my own personal tactical training served me well in lethal force situations and gave me the confidence to handle extremely stressful situations with confidence while making good decisions. Combining martial arts training, firearms tactical training and competition training gave me a superior blend of skills that brought me to a far higher level of performance than if I had stayed with the “normal” training that was available.

I became a world class shooter and a national champion law enforcement competitor through diligent learning and application of training and fighting principles that I adapted for the competitive environment. I then adapted what I learned from competition shooting and practitioners to what we teach in the martial firearms disciplines to create a superior training product.

For over 31 years I have consistently ranked among the best shooters in the world in national, international and world championship competitions, winning many different titles including two time National Law Enforcement Champion.

Competitive Shooting Experience – Highlights:

• Currently ranked as a Grandmaster, top 5 % in the world in USPSA, Open and Limited Divisions.

• Two time, US National Law Enforcement Champion for USPSA.

• US National Champion – Limited 10 Division, 2000, USPSA.

• US Gold Team Member – Standard Division – 2002

• 2002 IPSC World Championships in South Africa – Gold medal for 1st place Team and Bronze Medal in the individual event.

• Top Law Enforcement Shooter in numerous championships from 1985 to 1993 when I stopped working law enforcement full time.

• Two time Area 1 Champion

• Area 2 Champion

• North American Stock Gun Champion

• Top 16 shooter in multiple national, international and world competitions for well over 20 years

• Top finishes in most of the major IPSC tournaments in the United States, winning or placing highly in numerous matches. Too numerous to list individually.

Trainer:

For the last 32 years, I have worked as a professional firearms trainer for law enforcement, military and civilian programs. I instruct basic through advanced tactical and instructor level courses in rifle, pistol, shotgun and defensive tactics programs.

I am internationally recognized as a researcher, firearms trainer and world class professional shooter. My training methodology is currently being used by hundreds of agencies and thousands of individuals across the US and internationally.

I have worked as a consultant and trainer for most of the top level federal agencies, special operations military from all branches of the armed force, law enforcement agencies across the US and civilians from all walks of life.

I am a consultant for firearms training programs, use of force and firearms research, range development, instructor development and other firearm related topics.

Researcher and Developer

Using my background as a world class shooter and firearms trainer and my talent for research and creation of new doctrine and concepts, I have pioneered cutting edge firearms training techniques, methodologies and programs. I also design concept firearms and enjoy doing high performance design and testing of practical firearms for a variety of uses.

I continue to research, test and evaluate new concepts for training, firearms, gear and a host of other fun things. We always have something new we are working on in our Academy.

I am a member of the Force Science Research Group Technical Advisory Board and consulted, designed and implemented the Hit Probability Study as well as provided technical expertise on various use of force subjects.

Writer

  • As a published writer, my articles have been featured in:
  • Petersen’s Handguns
  • SWAT Magazine
  • American Handgunner
  • Colorado State Shooting Association Magazine
  • Various law enforcement journals – IALEFI, TTPOA, ITOA etc.
  • United States Practical Shooting Association’s, Front Sight magazine.
  • I currently have my own column, The Firearms Corner, with PoliceOne.com where you can find my latest articles there!

Video Productions:

We completed a 3 part video series on advanced handgun skills  in 2000 titled “Secrets of a Professional Shooter” which explores cutting edge concepts on peak performance practical shooting for defensive use.

Clients
I have worked with thousands of clients from very diverse backgrounds over the years which include:

  • Law enforcement program and academy directors and staff
  • Law enforcement personnel from hundreds of agencies, big and small
  • Law enforcement firearms instructors
  • Law enforcement special response teams
  • US Army, Navy, Marine Corp and Air Force personnel and elite special operations military units
  • US Dept. of Defense
  • Qualified civilians from beginners to highly advanced students
  • Competitive shooters of all skill ranges
  • Guest Instructor for Law Enforcement Conferences
  • International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors
  • American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers
  • Pressure Points and Control Tactics
  • Action Target Law Enforcement Training Camp
  • Texas Tactical Police Officer’s Association
  • Colorado Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association.

Consulting Areas of Expertise

  • Firearms Programs – methodology, development, design and implementation
  • Firearms Program Management
  • Firearms development, testing and consulting
  • Firearm and ammunition testing and selection
  • Officer Survival, defensive tactics and arrest and control programs
  • Less lethal and other use of force training
  • Instructor development and certification programs
  • Policy development and review
  • Expert witness capability – Firearms and Use of Force

 

A sample of the many organizations and personnel from various organizations trained by me include:

  • Alaska Peace Officers Association
  • Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Personnel
  • Alexandria, VA SWAT and Instructors
  • American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers.
  • Benelli and Beretta Firearms of Italy
  • Bureau of Indian Affairs
  • Campbell County Sheriff’s Office, Gillette, WY
  • Cheyenne, WY Police Dept.
  • Colorado Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association
  • Dallas Police Dept. SWAT
  • Drug Enforcement Administration
  • Englewood, CO Police Dept.
  • FBI Firearms Instructors
  • FBI Special Response Teams
  • FBI Hostage Rescue Team
  • Federal Air Marshals
  • Greeley, CO Police Dept.
  • Houston Police Dept.
  • Illinois Police Dept. SWAT and firearms trainers
  • Illinois Tactical Officer’s Association
  • International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors
  • Irvine, CA Police Dept. SWAT and Patrol
  • San Antonio, TX Police SWAT and firearms trainers
  • Smith and Wesson Academy – Guest Instructor
  • Texas Tactical Police Officer’s Association
  • US Air Force Raven Teams
  • US Army personnel
  • US Army Special Forces – Delta Force Squadron B and C
  • US Border Patrol
  • US Border Patrol Bor Tac Team members
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement
  • US Dept. of Defense
  • US Forest Service Personnel
  • US Marine Corps – Personnel and Instructors
  • US Marshals Service
  • US Navy Seal Team 8
  • US Navy Special Boat Squadron 20
  • US Secret Service – Consulting and training for Firearms Instructors, Counter Assault Teams, Snipers
  • Virginia Beach Police Dept.
  • West Covina, CA Police Dept.
  • Wyoming Dept. of Fish and Game

In addition to the above:

  •  Many other agencies and law enforcement personnel from many different state, county and municipal agencies and organizations, military personnel from various armed services across the US, security professionals and qualified civilians from all walks of life.