Obituary: Robert C. Kasper October 6, 2006
- William DeMuth
- Apr 30
- 3 min read
Published by Fight Times Editor on October 27, 2006 Obituary reprinted courtesy of Scranton Times-Tribune
Robert C. Kasper, 55, of Clarks Summit, died Friday at home after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Pat.
Born in Peckville, son of Charles Kasper and the late Irene Wyszinski Kasper, he was a former officer in the Marine Corps Military Police and was an Army Reserves cavalry scout. He was the founder and director of the Gung Ho Chuan Association, Kni-Com knife-fighting system, teaching military, Department of Defense, government and corpor ate personnel in high-risk environments, as well as air marshals, police and sheriff departments, national and international.
He had black belts in several martial arts disciplines and was the founder/chief instructor of personal combative tactics. He was a writer and columnist for several magazines, including “Gung Ho,” “Fighting Knives” and “Tactical Knives.” He was also editor of the combative skills journal “Snapping In.”
He was a combative knife expert, a designer of 11 combat knives, and a subject matter expert in establishing knife training for the Marine Corps Close Combat Curriculum. He was also the First Regent of the American Society of Arwologists. As a believer in Christ, he attended Heritage Baptist Church, Clarks Summit. Before going home to the Lord, he was the recruiting manager for Blackwater Security and was previously program manager for Dyncorp International.
His warm, friendly smile, generous nature and loving heart will be deeply missed by all who loved him. He fought a good fight; he has finished his course; and he kept the faith.
Also surviving are a sister, Phyllis Leonard, Florida; as well as many beloved family members.
Arrangements by the Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, Clarks Summit.
About
Robert C. Kasper was a highly respected combatives expert and tactical instructor who served as the Recruiting Manager for Blackwater Security (now known as Academi/Constellis) in the mid-2000s.
While he is often remembered for his deep roots in the Marine Corps and the martial arts community, his role at Blackwater was pivotal during a period of rapid expansion for the private military contractor.
Key Contributions at Blackwater
Recruitment Management: Kasper was responsible for vetting and hiring personnel for high-risk security details. His background in the military and private contracting made him an ideal gatekeeper for ensuring candidates possessed the necessary tactical proficiency and psychological temperament.
Tactical Influence: Although his official title was in management, Kasper’s reputation as a combative knife expert and subject matter expert in close-quarters combat (CQC) lent significant credibility to Blackwater’s training culture.
Operational Standards: Before joining Blackwater, he served as a program manager for DynCorp International, another major defense contractor. He brought that high-level administrative and operational experience to Blackwater to help professionalize their security programs.
Legacy Beyond Blackwater
Outside of his corporate role, Kasper was a legendary figure in the "combatives" world. He is specifically noted for:
The Gung Ho Chuan Association: He founded this association to preserve and teach aggressive, functional martial arts and knife fighting.
Knife Design: He designed several renowned combat knives, most notably the Kasper Fighting Knife (produced by makers like Crawford Knives and Columbia River Knife & Tool/CRKT).
Marine Corps Curriculum: He was a primary subject matter expert in developing the Marine Corps Close Combat Curriculum, specifically regarding knife training.
Kasper passed away in October 2006 after a battle with cancer, but his training methodologies and knife designs remain influential in the tactical community today.
