AggDefSol Instructors

Aggressive Defensive Solutions takes great pride in each of our instructors and consultants. We feel clients deserve the right to know the qualifications of the individual providing their instruction.

AggDefSol adherses to a policy where we only use lead instructors that have direct knowledge of the subject matter taught. Rest asured our military course such as MOUT and Convoy Survivability are tought by current and former military with first hand knowledge of combat convoy operations in multiple theathers of operation and access to the latest convoy TTP. Our law enforcement High Risk Operations Course is tought by active police offices with years of experience conducting these operations.

No matter what course you take at Aggressive Defensive Solutions you have the right to know your instructor. Because we know its your life on the line. If you don't trust your instructor in training you won't trust the tactics out there.

Staff Biographies

  • Ric.
  • Mac
  • AJ
  • Ron
  • Randy

Ric. Sutton - President and Instructor

Photo of Ric. Sutton
Ric. is a founding and active member of the Virginia Beach Police Department competitive Pistol Team, since 1994, he has won numerous awards for competitive shooting.  He is a Virginia DCJS General and Firearms Instructor and NRA Law Enforcement Certified Instructor.  Through contracts between Aggressive Defensive Solutions and Blackwater, USA Ric. serves an adjunct instructor for Blackwater Training Center and is a founding member of their Anti-Terrorism Warfare Training Group specializing in counter terrorism courses.

Ric. has seen 18 years of decorated military service in the United States Marine Corps including earning the Combat Action Ribbon for Action during Operation Desert Storm.  He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Amphibious Raid course in addition to the Staff and NCO Career and Advanced Course.  He has served in positions as AAV crewman, gunner, crew chief, section leader, Platoon Sergeant and Leader, Company Gunnery Sergeant and Acting First Sergeant. Ric. has served as an instructor for a variety of tactical subjects including: Security and Stabilization Operations (SaSO), Tactics and Gunnery for the USMCR, small arms and heavy weapons, Infantry and MOUT tactics.

Ric. brings 17 years of varied civilian law enforcement to the company.  He began his career with the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department in Virginia.  Since 1990 he has served with the Virginia Beach Police Department in a variety of assignments including: Uniformed Patrol where he served as a field Training Officer, Mobile Tactics Team member, Resort Area Operations, Firearms Instructor, and Ric. is currently serving as a Major Crimes Investigator. [contact]

John "Mac" McLuckie - Instructor and Consultant

Photo of Joh "Mac" McLuckie
John has received an AA in Criminal Justice from Northern Virginia Community College and a BS in Criminal Justice from American University. He has attended courses of study in investigative techniques, interview/interrogation methods and crowd/mod Psychology. We are fortunate enough to have John "Mac" McLuckie join our team. John brings to the organization over twenty years of field experience with a major metropolitan police department, and has served in a myriad of billets making use of his vast wealth of knowledge to better prepare you for the challenges faced in tactical situations.

John also has received certification and training in the following :
  • IACP SWAT (basic)
  • FBI Airplane Assault course
  • Va DCJS Firearms Instructor
  • Va DCJS General Instructor
  • FBI Bomb Squad Management
  • FBI Hostage Negotiator School
  • IACP Ultra SWAT (advanced course)
  • USSS Executive Protection Training
  • IACP SWAT Supervisor (tactics and management)

In addition, Mac has also served as a detective, SWAT team sergeant, and a sniper team sergeant. Having extensive experience in crowd management and Mobile Tactics Operations. He is also a founding and current member of the VA Beach Police department competition pistol team.  [contact]

AJ Ventetuolo - Instructor and Consultant

Photo of AJ Ventetuolo
AJ earned his BS from James Madison University and is currently a candidate from a MS in Criminal Justice from Troy University.  AJ is a Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services certified General Instructor and Defensive Tactics Instructor, and serves as a member of the Performance Evaluation Review Committee and Recruit Mentor program for the Virginia Beach Police Department.

During college AJ was selected for an internship with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms where he provided investigative support and also gained valuable exposure to crime lab functions and the modern roles and responsibility of the BATF.

Currently AJ is a Community Policing Officer working street level narcotics, violent crime investigation and the Firearms Interdiction Program.  Additionally, AJ is a member of his precinct Mobile Tactics Team. 

AJ's formal training consists of courses in the following: 

  • Rapid Response/Building Clearing Defensive Driving Training
  • S.L.A.T.T.-State and Local Anti-Terrorism Training
  • Incident Command System
  • U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Managing Civil Actions in Threat Incidents
  • Virginia Beach Police Department Designated Marksman
  • Training Extreme Officer Survival School

AJ is a member of the Virginia Beach Police Department competitive Pistol Team.  [contact]

Ron Ehlers - Instructor and Consultant

Photo of Ron Ehlers
Ron earned his BS in Political Science from Old Dominion University.   Ron is a certified Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Service General Instructor.

Ron is a dedicated military professional recently finishing a second tour in Iraq.  Ron's first tour was as member of an U.S. Army Civil Affairs Team where he was responsible for the planning and execution of combat patrols during the execution of his team's mission.  Additionally, Ron and his team were responsible for various humanitarian efforts in Baghdad.  Ron's second OIF tour was in Northern Iraq as a Military Advisor to the Iraqi Army.  Ron oversaw the training of new Iraqi recruits and was responsible for training in basic military, combat and weapons training.  He also served as an advisor to new Iraqi Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers in the development and execution of both training and combat operations.  Prior to Ron's service in the U.S. Army he served in the USMCR, 4th Amphibious Assault Vehicle BN.  He served as a Crewman, Crew Chief, Section Leader and Platoon Sergeant.

Ron currently serves as a United States Probation Officer where he supervises over 60 cases of Federal supervised release, probation and parole.  Ron also is responsible  for conducting investigation for the U.S District Court in relation to Federal parole violation.  Prior to Ron's Federal service he was a Law Enforcement Officer where he was a member of Tactical Response Unit and dive team.  Ron also conducted street level narcotics and criminal investigation. 

Ron has attended courses in the following:

  • U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Course
  • FBI Basic Sniper Course
  • Basic Criminal Investigation Techniques
  • How to Develop, Manage and Supervise Informants
  • Basic Drug Investigation Course
  • Basic SWAT
  • Narcotics Officer Skills Workshop
  • Basic Investigation School
[contact]

Randy Riddick - Instructor and Consultant

Photo of Randy Riddick
Randy brings to the equation twenty-two years of experience with the U.S. Marine Corps including action during Desert Storm.

Randy is a Virginia DCJS General Instructor, Defensive Tactics Instructor and Firearms Instructor.

Randy is currently a Lieutenant with the Portsmouth, VA Sheriff's Office. [contact]