The world constantly faces a myriad of various imminent dangers ranging from local to international and somehow, we are always expected to be ready for each and every one of them. For some dangers, we are able to completely stop them before any serious damage but in case of others, we can only mitigate them or deal with the aftermath. Threats like these consistently plague our safety and we have to be able to recover from the damage before the others strike almost immediately.
Threat assessment is a rather unique form of harm protection that is relatively unknown and not appreciated enough. It basically means digging out the factors or individuals that are or may come to be a threat to our society. These underground threats may intend to cause mental, physical or even sexual harm to another person and moves like these can be seen verbally, in written or through the use of gestures. Threats can be made to the set victim or someone else, directly or indirectly, and they can be unequivocal, implied and sometimes even involve weaponry or explosives.
In order to spread awareness relating to such horrific acts, a considerable number of law firms, NGOS, political figures as well as entire organizations have started awareness programs. Similar to many of these programs, Gregory Mark Vecchi has founded Vecchi Group International LLC, a firm that provides education on precautionary measures against emergency situations.
Gregory Mark Vecchi, born on 4 February 1964, is a writer, professor, consultant, and trainer from the United States. He is the principal of Vecchi Group International LLC, where he offers threat assessment, crisis negotiation, behavioral analysis, martial arts/defensive tactics, as well as firearms and weapon consultation and training. He is also a court-certified expert in violence, law enforcement policy and procedures, interviewing and interrogation methods, and verification bias.
Vecchi is a retired supervisory special agent and Chief of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) and a career crisis negotiator with more than 30 years of law implementation experience. He also investigated Russian organized crime, international drug trafficking, international and local terrorism, along with violent and brutal crimes during his career.
Vecchi went to Windsor Elementary School and St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic School before graduating from Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, Iowa, in 1982. He graduated from Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Automotive Technology in 1984. While on active duty in the United States Army, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management/Human Resources from Park University in Parkville, Missouri, in 1991.
He later earned his Master of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1999, and his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 2006, all while working full-time as an FBI special agent.
Vecchi joined the United States Army in December 1985 and was honorably discharged in April 1992. He worked as a Staff Sergeant/E-6 and special agent with the United States Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) in Fort Bliss, Texas, investigating murders, suicides, rapes, robberies, and burglaries, as well as conducting dozens of crime prevention surveys. Vecchi also worked undercover and supervised Military Police Investigators as the Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge (NCOIC) of a CID Drug Suppression Team.
Due to his commitment to public service, Vecchi continued his career by serving as a special agent with the USDA-OIG from 1992 to 1993 in Atlanta, Georgia. He investigated violations of federal law relating to food stamp trafficking, specializing in undercover operations, targeting businesses that illegally trafficked food stamps and people who used food stamps to indulge in illicit drugs. He later worked as a special agent for the USDOJ-OIG in McAllen, Texas from 1993 to 1996 where he focused on drug trafficking, bribery, immigrant document fixing, and smuggling investigations involving corrupt U.S Immigration employees and Border Patrol agents.
Vecchi joined the FBI as a special agent in September 1996 and left in February 2014. He worked as a special agent in Miami, Florida, and Rapid City, South Dakota (March 1997 – September 2003; October 2011 – February 2014), as well as a supervisory special agent in the Rapid Deployment Unit (September 2003 – December 2004), Crisis Negotiation Unit (December 2004 – January 2006), and Behavioral Science Unit (January 2006 – August 2008).
From 2012 to 2016, Vecchi owned Bullets and Beer Saloon, a multi-tiered gun business that also housed several businesses, including a gun shop, a pawn shop, and a shooting range. The business was housed in a large one-story stucco structure on Deadwood’s Lee Street. During this time, Vecchi instructed Ozzy Osbourne on his Season 1, Episode 3 (Father Knows West, 32:39-36:39) of Ozzy & Jack’ World Tour, which aired on the History Channel on August 7, 2016.
Considering his diversified proficiency and skill set, Vecchi was made in-charge of developing and enforcing the FBI National Behavioral Science Research Certificate Program, which was accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Vecchi has worked rigorously to promote safety standards by setting an example for youngsters in a number of Institutions. He is truly the epitome of a genuine patriot.