05-27-2022
Casper Jones III’s journey to the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program began like that of many others — with a visit from Dr. Bell to his home in Gary, Indiana.
“Dr. Bell was very engaging and positive and clearly came across as an individual who wanted to help people use BOP to matriculate out of their current environment into a successful career in business and other endeavors,” Jones says. “My parents thought it was a good idea, and I thought it was a good idea, so I joined the program for its summer session in 1974.”
Jones’ first year in BOP went smoothly, but he chose to withdraw from Purdue in 1976 and enlist in the U.S. Army. He was soon recognized for his potential by senior leaders and encouraged to apply for the Army’s Green to Gold Scholarship Program. Fulfilling a promise to his mother, he reenrolled at Purdue and earned a bachelor’s degree in management before returning to the Army as a second lieutenant.
“I really wanted to come back to Purdue and get my degree,” Jones says. “For me, it was unfinished business, and Dr. Bell always showed interest, gave me hope, and reminded me, ‘You can do this.’ I wanted to make sure I delivered on his commitment to me.”
Graduating in 1980, Jones made the most of his renewed opportunities, going on to earn numerous promotions in roles of increasing responsibility, further developing and honing his fieldcraft, decision-making, critical-thinking and leadership skills.
As a lieutenant colonel in the Army’s Medical Service Corps, Jones served as chief operating officer (COO) at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. Upon his promotion to colonel in 2004, he took command of the 86th Combat Support Hospital at Fort Campbell, KY, and deployed it to Baghdad, Iraq, during operation Iraqi Freedom. He later took command of Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center at Fort Hood, TX. Prior to retiring honorably from active service in 2011, Jones was the deputy chief of staff for operation and plans for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region, headquartered in Bethesda, MD.
After a stint as a consultant, Jones joined Comprehensive Health Services (CHS) in 2011, successfully standing up four diplomate support hospitals and eight clinics in support of the U.S. Department of State, caring for approximately 17,000 U.S. personnel, contractors, and authorized foreign nationals.
In 2013, he returned to the U.S. and stayed with CHS as the vice president and COO of international operations, and senior vice president and COO of global medical services, providing primary care, general and trauma surgery, telemedicine, teleradiology, public health, and veterinary services.
In 2018, Jones was named vice president of global medical services, Caliburn International, and subsequently Worldwide Healthcare Services, Acuity International. In these roles, he is responsible for the successful execution of international programs in Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
Jones says he began giving to BOP regularly about 15 years ago. “I think those of us who graduate from a great institution like Purdue and become successful in our careers need to find ways to support others in the same pursuit. As I like to say, ‘Give hope, give means, give emotional support and be available.’”
Jones encourages other alumni to support BOP, financially and otherwise. “When I think of BOP, I think of a truss bridge that uses interlocking triangles to spread the load, taking you from wherever you are to where you are going,” he says. “That network of support is what makes the bridge — and BOP — so powerful and strong.”
