Gregory M. Vecchi, Ph.D.

Gregory M. Vecchi, Ph.D., is the principal and chief trainer of the RAT Fighting System. He is a retired FBI agent, Unit Chief of the legendary FBI Behavioral Science Unit, and career hostage negotiator. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Army, where he served as a U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) agent. Dr. Vecchi has over 30 years of law enforcement experience and is a licensed peace officer in Missouri.

Dr. Vecchi has 50 years of experience as a practitioner and instructor in martial arts and over 30 years as a firearms instructor. He holds instructor certifications in Contemporary Jeet Kune Do/Kali, Wing Tsung, Modern Arnis, and Latosa Escrima. He is also an NRA law enforcement firearms instructor, NRA counselor/instructor for all pistol disciplines, and NRA chief range safety officer. Dr. Vecchi is also a qualified gunfighting instructor in Suarez Tactics and the Center Axis Relock (CAR) System.

Dr. Vecchi earned a doctorate in conflict analysis and resolution from Nova Southeastern University and a master’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Alabama. He is also a DHS-certified trainer in threat evaluation and reporting and a published author in firearms tactics through the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors.

Dr. Vecchi’s vision for the RAT Fighting System is to offer practical, life-saving training in a professional and supportive environment. The RAT Fighting System blends time-tested best practices and empirical research with knowledge of offender behavior and human physiology to ensure that students are well-prepared to deal with real-world physical threats of violence.