Biography

John Campbell was born in Wilmington, Massachusetts and is a 1977 graduate of Wilmington High School where he was selected all 4 years to the National Honor Society. He was selected as Class President his sophomore year and Class Vice-President his junior and senior Years. John was a member of the track, wrestling and football teams and selected as a Tri-Captain of the football team that played in the Massachusetts Super Bowl his senior year.

John entered the University of Rhode Island in 1977. His activities and awards included: Member of the Rugby Team for 4 years, Student Manager of the Pub his junior and senior years, and selected Superior ROTC Cadet Award his sophomore year. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry.

He entered active duty in August 1981 and attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion, he attended and graduated from the Army Rotary Wing Aviator Course and the AH-1 Cobra Aircraft Weapons Qualification Course at Fort Rucker, AL. His initial assignment was with the 101st Infantry Division (Air Assault), Aviation Brigade as an Attack Platoon Leader.
In 1986, he was assigned to the US Army ROTC Cadet Command as an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Massachusetts. Through his leadership, initiative and devotion to duty, CPT Campbell was instrumental in increasing the enrollment and raising the level of awareness of the ROTC program in all of Western Massachusetts.

CPT Campbell attended the New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he was the recipient of the Outstanding Practitioner Award and a member of Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society in 1992. He completed his medical internship training at Martin Army Hospital, Fort Benning, GA.  Major (Doctor) Campbell was assigned as Director, Flight Surgeon Primary Course, Fort Rucker, AL. Through his leadership and efforts, the course was combined with the US Navy and Coast Guard, which resulted in proving outstanding instruction to Flight Surgeons. During this period, LTC Campbell served as a NASA Flight Surgeon for numerous launches and recoveries in support of the Space Shuttle Program.

In 2003, LTC (Doctor) Campbell deployed to Iraq as the Battalion Flight Surgeon, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). Joining the battalion in the midst of combat operations, LTC Campbell immediately established the battalion aid station and medical oversight for the 340 soldiers of the 1st Battalion. As the division transitioned from combat operation to Stability and Support Operations of the Iraqi civilian population, Dr. Campbell volunteered for duty to support the Division’s Civil Affairs Team, a true professional and leader supporting the mission of the 101st Airborne Division.

Later LTC Campbell was assigned as Dean, US Army School of Aviation Medicine at Fort Rucker, AL. As Dean, he established the new Joint Medical En route Care Course which incorporated lessons learned from both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as they pertain to patient en route care. With his leadership, combat field experience and sound medical knowledge, this course has moved from concept to execution to operational field implementation in providing medical care to our wounded soldiers while en route to the Battalion Medical Aid Station.

In August 2007, Colonel Campbell was selected to serve as the Command Surgeon, US Army Safety Center, Fort Rucker, AL. In this position, he provided technical advice and consultation on medically related aspects of safety. During his active duty years of service, John was always involved with organizational events supporting soldiers and their families wherever he was stationed. He taught Sunday School Classes and served on Parish Councils for many years. He was awarded the US Army Military Outstanding Voluntary Service Medal and received the Jerry B. Brunson Award for leadership and community activities in 2012.

Upon his retirement from the United States Army in November 2009, Doctor Campbell was awarded the Legion of Merit and the coveted Army Aviation Award of the Order of Saint Michael for his 28 years of contributions both in Aviation as a Cobra Pilot and as a Master Flight Surgeon. Colonel Campbell’s other awards include the Meritorious Service Medal w/2 OLCs and Army Commendation Medal w/6 OLCs.

Colonel Campbell is still very active in US Army Aviation Training as a medical advisor to the US Army Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape School (SERE). He provides continual medical coverage for all the SERE Students and is in charge of medical training and survival techniques for 5 Paramedic and 5 Military Medics. He also teaches Osteopathic Practices and Principals to the Still’s University Osteopathic Medical students.

Colonel Campbell is a true professional and brings great honor to his family, the University of Rhode Island and our nation. Colonel Campbell and his wife Tish reside in Enterprise, Alabama.