Jason Stone: Dedicated to Serve
The Art of War is a centuries-old discourse about military strategy that is considered by many to have significance far beyond that which its author, Sun Tzu, might have intended.
Such is the case for Jason Stone, Collegiate’s security and safety manager who considers the ancient treatise the definitive model for his management style.
“Everything in the book is so right,” the Connecticut native explained.
“It tells you that you have to know your people, their specialties, what they’re capable of doing.
“It addresses being humble. It tells you pride can’t get in the way. You can’t act out of anger. You have to take a deep breath, step back, and reassess.”
Such is the case for Jason Stone, Collegiate’s security and safety manager who considers the ancient treatise the definitive model for his management style.
“Everything in the book is so right,” the Connecticut native explained.
“It tells you that you have to know your people, their specialties, what they’re capable of doing.
“It addresses being humble. It tells you pride can’t get in the way. You can’t act out of anger. You have to take a deep breath, step back, and reassess.”
Stone has put his philosophy into action at each of his professional stops.
An Eagle Scout fresh out of Norwich Free Academy, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993, did his not-for-sissies basic training at Parris Island, SC, and served four years as an infantry scout in Pacific outposts such as Okinawa, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
While each of his experiences played a role in shaping him, none was more memorable than his assignment as a tour guide at Mt. Suribachi during the 50th commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1995.
“I met veterans who fought there,” he said. “It was amazing. They showed us around rather than vice versa.
“It was where their brothers died. It was definitely emotional.”
After his tour of duty ended, Stone worked as a security officer at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and as a paramedic and emergency medical technician before moving to Central Virginia in 2003.
After his younger son Kaleb was born, he was a stay-at-home dad while his wife Stacie worked. On October 4, 2010, he signed on with Security Forces, Inc. as site supervisor at Collegiate. He assumed his current role on January 1, 2012.
“Even when I was a contractor,” he said, “I felt an amazing sense of community at Collegiate.
“It sounds like a cliché, but Collegiate is like one big family. Everyone knows each other and works well together.
“Everyone has the same goal: to provide the best learning environment for the kids to prosper. I love that. That’s awesome.”
Stone oversees all areas of security on both the North Mooreland Road and Goochland facilities.
He executes a wide range of duties from monitoring the SFI team (which provides a 24/7 presence) to ensuring that faculty, staff, and parent drivers have the proper certification to revising the school’s emergency action plan to taking charge during weather-related events to handling spontaneous situations.
“You look at a house with a sticker that says, ‘Protected by an alarm,’” he says. “We’re that alarm.
“If someone is coming to do harm to either people or buildings, they’re going to look at the school with visible security and say, ‘We don’t want to go there.’
“We’re visible. Just the flashing light on top of the car at 2 a.m. might be enough deterrent to someone wanting to do damage.
“You always plan for the worst case scenario but hope for the best.
“Better to be safe than sorry.”
If you look back on the affable Stone’s career, you see a common thread: public service.
It’s in his DNA.
It’s who he is.
“It was like I was guided in this direction,” he said. “Every job I’ve ever had, I’ve helped people.”
“(Security work) provides a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride that I’m able to help people, help them learn, help them provide a safe environment for kids to learn.
“I’m a husband, a father, a son. I would just hope that if my wife or kids or dad is in need, they would get the kind of treatment that I would give people.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
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An Eagle Scout fresh out of Norwich Free Academy, he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993, did his not-for-sissies basic training at Parris Island, SC, and served four years as an infantry scout in Pacific outposts such as Okinawa, Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Thailand.
While each of his experiences played a role in shaping him, none was more memorable than his assignment as a tour guide at Mt. Suribachi during the 50th commemoration of the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1995.
“I met veterans who fought there,” he said. “It was amazing. They showed us around rather than vice versa.
“It was where their brothers died. It was definitely emotional.”
After his tour of duty ended, Stone worked as a security officer at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut and as a paramedic and emergency medical technician before moving to Central Virginia in 2003.
After his younger son Kaleb was born, he was a stay-at-home dad while his wife Stacie worked. On October 4, 2010, he signed on with Security Forces, Inc. as site supervisor at Collegiate. He assumed his current role on January 1, 2012.
“Even when I was a contractor,” he said, “I felt an amazing sense of community at Collegiate.
“It sounds like a cliché, but Collegiate is like one big family. Everyone knows each other and works well together.
“Everyone has the same goal: to provide the best learning environment for the kids to prosper. I love that. That’s awesome.”
Stone oversees all areas of security on both the North Mooreland Road and Goochland facilities.
He executes a wide range of duties from monitoring the SFI team (which provides a 24/7 presence) to ensuring that faculty, staff, and parent drivers have the proper certification to revising the school’s emergency action plan to taking charge during weather-related events to handling spontaneous situations.
“You look at a house with a sticker that says, ‘Protected by an alarm,’” he says. “We’re that alarm.
“If someone is coming to do harm to either people or buildings, they’re going to look at the school with visible security and say, ‘We don’t want to go there.’
“We’re visible. Just the flashing light on top of the car at 2 a.m. might be enough deterrent to someone wanting to do damage.
“You always plan for the worst case scenario but hope for the best.
“Better to be safe than sorry.”
If you look back on the affable Stone’s career, you see a common thread: public service.
It’s in his DNA.
It’s who he is.
“It was like I was guided in this direction,” he said. “Every job I’ve ever had, I’ve helped people.”
“(Security work) provides a sense of accomplishment, a sense of pride that I’m able to help people, help them learn, help them provide a safe environment for kids to learn.
“I’m a husband, a father, a son. I would just hope that if my wife or kids or dad is in need, they would get the kind of treatment that I would give people.”
-- Weldon Bradshaw
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