John G. "Jack" Heslin
A Workforce Development Consultant
Ph 804-586-3369
jgheslin@gmail.com
CAREER
Civilian
Jack was the President/Owner of Black Jack Enterprises Inc., a workforce development and computer consulting company.
Until August of 2002, Jack was the Coordinator for Workforce Development at John Tyler Community College (JTCC) Chester, Virginia, consistently one of the top Service Centers in the nation. Jack had been with the Virginia Community College System as a Sociology professor and an administrator at JTCC with the responsibility for apprenticeship programs and the operation of the Outreach Centers at Fort Lee and Midlothian VA. He has worked extensively with companies and secondary schools in the greater Richmond metropolitan area as they participated with John Tyler Community College in developing the workforce through public / private partnerships. Jack has been a certified ACT profiler and the Administrator for a Assessment Center through the Crater Regional Partnership. He has conducted over 60 job profiles and administered more than 8,600 workplace skills assessments. He has made numerous presentations to area, state and national educators and business leaders on workforce development. He has appeared before several State level appropriations and finance committees.
After leaving John Tyler Community College and becoming a Workforce Development Consultant, Jack became part of the Thinking Media team and, for more than eight years served as the instate representative for KeyTrain in the state of Virginia.
Jack holds an MA in Sociology from the University of Rhode Island, a BA from Providence College and is a graduate of the Naval War College.
Jack completed a 20-year military career as an Army aviator and is a retired Lieutenant Colonel. He has had several articles published in military journals. Jack was a founding member of the Chester Rotary Club, and is a life member of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association VHPA and the Distinguished Flying Cross Society.
As the web author of The Battle of Kontum web site Jack has made many presentations on the Battle of Kontum and Easter offensive of 1972. He is available for presentations and can be reached through The Battle of Kontum web site. You can e-mail Jack at: jgheslin@gmail.com
NATIONAL LEVEL CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
American Association of Community Colleges AACC WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE San Diego, CA Jan. 27-30, 1999 "Entrepreneurial Partnership: A Systematic Approach to Workforce Development"
Third Annual Workforce Education Conference, Houston, TX. Feb 11-12, 1999 "Innovations in Partnerships: A Systematic Approach to Workforce Development"
GET TO WORK! Investing in America's Human Resources Conference, Alexandria, VA. Mar 20-23, 1999 "Entrepreneurial Partnership: A Systematic Approach to Workforce Development"
LEAGUE FOR INNOVATION: INNOVATIONS 2000, Orlando, Florida, Feb. 27 - March 1, 2000. "Creating a Seamless Approach to Workforce Development"
AACC Workforce Development Conference 2002, Miami, Florida, "Workforce Development - A Shared Responsibility"
CAREER
Military
LTC Heslin was born in 1943 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and attended high school at La Salle Academy. He graduated from Providence College in Providence, RI, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and was commissioned in the Regular Army, June 1965. He attended Infantry Officer Basic Course and Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division where he served as a platoon leader in the Dominican Republic and commander the rear detachment for 1st Battalion, 504th Infantry at Fort Bragg, NC
LTC Heslin attended Rotary Wing Flight School from October 1966 through June 1967. As an Army aviator, he was assigned to the 57th Assault Helicopter Company at Fort Bragg, NC and deployed with the unit to Vietnam in October 1967. Upon arrival in Vietnam, he was assigned to the 119th Assault Helicopter Company where he served as an assault helicopter platoon commander and operations officer.
Following completion of his first tour in Vietnam, Jack was assigned to the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where he performed duties as a senior instructor for the Warrant Officer Career Course and commanded the 31st Enlisted Student Company. After completing the Infantry Officer Advanced Course as an honor graduate in July 1971, he attended Fixed Wing Transition Training enroute to his second tour in Vietnam. In Vietnam, he performed duties as the 52nd Combat Aviation Battalion S-3, operations officer, and Assistant S-3 for the 17th Combat Aviation Group during the period, December 1971 through December 1972.
Upon returning from Vietnam in December 1972, LTC Heslin enrolled in the University of Rhode Island as a Master's Degree candidate in the Department of Sociology. He received his Master's Degree and graduated with honors in 1974. He immediately assumed duties as an ROTC instructor at the University of Rhode Island where he served for a period of three years.
In 1977, he was selected for attendance at the Naval War College Command and Staff Course and graduated with honors in June 1978.
After aviator refresher training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, Jack reported into the 3d Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division, HI, October 1978. He served as the 3d Squadron S-3 for one year and as commander of C Troop for one year before joining Headquarters Western Command as the Aviation Officer, DCSOPS, in December 1980.
Jack was assigned to Fort Lee, VA, in August 1981 as the Chief, Operations & Tactics Branch Chief, of the Unit Training Division, U.S. Army Logistics Center. He later served as the Division Chief for the Current Exercise Division and special projects officer before retiring on December 31, 1985.
LTC Heslin has been awarded the Silver Star , the Distinguished Flying Cross , the Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal with V device and twenty four oak leaf clusters , the Meritorious Service Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation (Army), National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.
Published Articles:
"Mobility: Key to Success on the Extended Battlefield;" by Lieutenant Colonel John G. Heslin, US Army; Military Review, August 1981, pp. 57 - 63.
"Consider the Balloon;" by LTC John G. Heslin, Aviation Digest, December 1981, pp. 31 - 33.
"The Airland Battle: A Winning Combination;" by Lieutenant Colonel John G. Heslin; Aviation Digest, January 1984, pp. 38 - 41.
"Rapid Changes Not Always Best;" by LT. Col. John G. Heslin; ARMY, April 1985, p. 21.
"The 1972 Battle of Kontum Reunion;" by Jack Heslin and Jim Stein; The VHPA Aviator, 2008 Vol. 26, No. 6 p. 9