Episode 42: Lt. Col Dave Grossman

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Guest: Lt. Col Dave Grossman

Lt. Col Dave Grossman is a retired U.S. Army Ranger, a paratrooper, and a former West Point 

psychology professor. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of combat, the 

science of human aggression, and the effects of violent media on society. His groundbreaking 

work has shaped modern understanding of what it means to prepare, perform, and survive in 

high-stress situations. 

As the author of influential books like On Killing and On Combat, Lt. Col. Grossman has 

provided invaluable insight into the warrior mindset, post-traumatic stress, and resilience. His 

research has been instrumental in training our military, law enforcement, and first responders, 

ensuring that those who stand on the front lines are not only physically prepared but mentally 

and emotionally equipped for the challenges they face. 

Beyond his written work, he is a sought-after speaker, having trained thousands of professionals 

in the fields of security, leadership, and crisis response. His commitment to those who serve—

 whether in uniform or in the community—has made a lasting impact on countless lives. 

In their description of Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, Slate Magazine said, "Grossman cuts such a 

heroic, omnicompetent figure, he could have stepped out of a video game." He holds five patents 

and has published four novels, two children's books, and six non-fiction books, including his  

bestseller" On Killing, which has sold over half a million copies, as well as a New York Times 

bestselling book co-authored with Glenn Beck. 

He holds a black belt in Hojutsu, the martial art of the firearm, and has been inducted into the 

USA Martial Arts Hall of Fame. His research has been cited by the President of the United States 

in a national address, and he has testified before the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress, and 

numerous state legislatures. He has served as an expert witness and consultant in both state and federal courts, providing critical insight into some of our nation’s most tragic events. 

His expertise has been sought in the wake of school massacres such as Jonesboro, Paducah, 

Springfield, Littleton, and Nickel Mines, where he played a role in counseling, court cases, and 

training mental health professionals. He has contributed extensively to academia, authoring the 

entry on "Aggression and Violence" in the Oxford Companion to American Military History and 

three entries in the Academic Press Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace, and Conflict. His research 

has been presented before national conventions of the American Medical Association, the 

American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association, and the American 

Academy of Pediatrics. 

Since his retirement from the U.S. Army in 1998, Col. Grossman has dedicated himself to 

training military, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and school safety organizations 

across the nation. Today, he serves as the director of Grossman On Truth, LLC and continues to 

educate and prepare our nation’s defenders for the challenges of the modern world. 

In the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he has written and spoken extensively on the terrorist 

threat, with articles published in the Harvard Journal of Law and Civil Policy and leading law 

enforcement journals. He has been recognized as a Life Diplomate by the American Board for 

Certification in Homeland Security and as a Life Member of the American College of Forensic 

Examiners Institute.