Ron Avery – President, Director of Training

PSA PRO TEAM CAPTAIN

Ron is currently President and Director of Training for The Practical Shooting Academy, Inc.  Starting at the age of 5, Ron began his firearms training with his father and has been shooting in one form or another since then. He has extensive personal experience with firearms as well as studying firearms related topics for most of his life.

Ron is a former law enforcement officer with many years of street experience and he brings that experience into the training environment. Ron has worked as a Deputy Sheriff and Police Officer in both rural and municipal settings as well as backcountry law enforcement in the extreme arctic wilderness of Alaska and the rugged mountains and plains of Colorado.

In addition to his law enforcement duties, Ron has served in the following capacities:

• Program Director – Firearms and Tactical Training
• Firearms & Tactics Program Design
• Lead Firearms & Tactics Trainer and Consultant
• Primary Designated Marksman
• Firearms Expert Witness

During his law enforcement career, Ron attended various firearms and defensive tactics training courses to include the NRA Law Enforcement Instructor course, where he was top student as well as Gunsite Academy 250 and 499 courses and Thunder Ranch. Ron has also attended Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) training and has gone through extensive tactical firearms and officer survival training, defensive tactics instructor and other courses during his career.

Other duties included:

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

For over 30 years he has 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. In 2002, he represented his country as a member of the first place, United States Practical Shooting Association’s “Gold Team” in the Standard Division in the World Championships in South Africa.

Using his background as a world class shooter and firearms trainer, Ron has pioneered cutting edge firearms training techniques, methodologies and programs.

For the last 30 years, Ron has worked as a professional firearms trainer for law enforcement, military and civilian programs. He instructs basic through advanced tactical and instructor level courses in rifle, pistol, shotgun and defensive tactics programs.

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

He has worked as a consultant and trainer for 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.

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

Ron is an adjunct instructor for the SIG SAUER Academy and teaches various firearms and tactics courses for them.

He is 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.

As a published writer, his articles have been featured in SWAT Magazine, Petersen’s Handguns, American Handgunner, USPSA Front Sight, Colorado State Shooting Association, and many other law enforcement publications and journals.

He is also a feature columnist for firearms training and tactics for PoliceOne.com.

Ron has worked with a diverse clientele 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
• He consulted with the US Secret Service in their firearms program after the events of 9/11 and they are currently using his training methodology as a training model.
• In 2001 he was brought in by SAIC as a consultant and master firearms trainer by private contract to train the lead trainers teaching the challenging Tactical Pistol Course at professional guide достопримечательности Тюмени, Artesia, NM for the Air Marshal Program.

Additional Information:

• 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 Program Development
• Research and development of training methodology
• Firearms testing and consulting
• Firearm and ammunition selection
• Program methodology, development and design
• Use of force training
• Instructor development programs
• Policy development and review
• Expert witness capability – Firearms use of force, officer survival, firearms program design etc.

Use of Force Research

• Conduct research and consult on various use of force topics.
• Consultant for Force Science Research Center in firearms use of force research and member of technical advisory board.

A sample of organizations and personnel from various organizations trained by Ron 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 Squadrons 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.

Competitive Shooting Experience:

• Represented the United States as a member of the first place US Gold Team in Standard Division in the 2002 IPSC World Championships in South Africa, placing 3rd in the world in that division.
• For the past 30 years, as a professional shooter, competed in most of the major IPSC tournaments in the United States, winning or placing highly in numerous matches.
• Top 16 shooter in multiple national, international and world competitions for over 17 years.
• Currently ranked as a Grandmaster in USPSA, Open and Limited Divisions.
• Two time, US National Law Enforcement Champion for USPSA.
• US National Champion, Limited 10 Division, 2000, USPSA.
• Two time Area 1 Champion
• Area 2 Champion
• North American Stock Gun Champion
• 13 time Colorado State Champion

Published writer with articles in various magazines to include:

• Petersen’s Handguns
• SWAT Magazine
• American Handgunner
• Colorado State Shooting Association Magazine
• Various law enforcement journals – IALEFI, TTPOA, ITOA etc.
• Feature writer for PoliceOne.com.
• Feature writer for the United States Practical Shooting Association’s, Front Sight magazine.

Video Productions:

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

Law Enforcement Experience – full time

• Deputy Sheriff, Routt County Sheriff’s Dept. Steamboat Springs, CO Feb. 1991 – May 1993
• Police Officer, Aspen Police Dept. Aspen, CO April 1986 – June 1990
• Tanana Chief’s Conference, Fairbanks, AK Sept. 1985 – April 1986
• Deputy Sheriff, Moffat County Sheriff’s Dept. Craig, CO Jan. 1981 – August, 1985

Professional Honors and Awards

• Regent’s Scholarship in Academics to attend College of Environmental Science and Forestry. 1974 – 1979.
• Western Slope Law Enforcement Training Academy – Valedictorian.
• VPSO Law Enforcement Training Academy (Sitka, AK)- Valedictorian, Class president.
• NRA Police Instructor Course – Top Student award.
• Aspen Police Dept.- Commendation for contributions to firearms program
• Certificate of Recognition from IL State Police for firearms training

Ron is an avid hunter and outdoorsman and enjoys outdoor survival, hiking, backpacking, nature study and pretty much any activity that takes him into the backcountry. He is a lifelong martial artist and has participated in a wide variety of martial arts and defensive tactics training during his career as an officer and professional trainer.