James L. Jones
James Logan Jones, Jr. (born December 19, 1943) is a retired United States Marine Corps general and the former United States National Security Advisor.
During his military career, he served as Commander, United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM) and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) from 2003 to 2006 and as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1999 to January 2003. Jones retired from the Marine Corps on February 1, 2007, after 40 years of service.
After retiring from the Marine Corps, Jones remained involved in national security and foreign policy issues. In 2007, Jones served as chairman of the Congressional Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq,[1] which investigated the capabilities of the Iraqi police and armed forces. In November 2007, he was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of State as special envoy for Middle East security. He served as chairman of the Atlantic Council from June 2007 to January 2009, when he assumed the post of National Security Advisor which he held until November 2010.
Early life and education
Jones was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on December 19, 1943. He is the son of Charlotte Ann (née Ground) and James L. Jones, Sr.,[2] a decorated Marine in World War II who was an officer in the Observer Group and the commanding officer of its successor, the Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion. Having spent his formative years in France, where he attended the American School of Paris,[3][4] he returned to the United States graduating from Groveton High School in Fairfax County, Virginia, then attended Georgetown University Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. Jones, who is six feet four inches (1.93 m) tall, played forward on the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team.[5]
Military career
In January 1967, Jones was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. Upon completion of The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, in October 1967, he was ordered to South Vietnam, where he served as a platoon and company commander with Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines. While overseas, he was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1968.[6]
Returning to the United States in December 1968, Jones was assigned to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, where he served as a company commander until May 1970. He then received orders to Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C., for duties as a company commander, serving in this assignment until July 1973. While at this post (December 1970) he was promoted to captain. From July 1973 until June 1974, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps University, MCB Quantico, Virginia.
In November 1974, he received orders to report to the 3rd Marine Division at MCB Camp Butler, Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the commander of Company H, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, until December 1975.[6]
From January 1976 to August 1979, Jones served in the Officer Assignments Section at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. During this assignment, he was promoted to major in July 1977. Remaining in Washington, his next assignment was as the Marine Corps liaison officer to the United States Senate, where he served until July 1984. In this assignment, his first commander was John McCain, then a U.S. Navy captain.[5] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1982.[7]
Senior staff and command
Jones was selected to attend the National War College in Washington, D.C. Following graduation in June 1985, he was assigned to command the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at Camp Pendleton, California, from July 1985 to July 1987.
In August 1987, Jones returned to Headquarters Marine Corps, where he served as senior aide to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to colonel in April 1988, and became the Military Secretary to the Commandant of the Marine Corps in February 1989. During August 1990, Jones was assigned as the commanding officer of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24th MEU) at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
During his tour with the 24th MEU, he participated in Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and Turkey. He was advanced to brigadier general on April 23, 1992. Jones was assigned to duties as deputy director, J-3, U.S European Command, Stuttgart, Germany, on July 15, 1992. During this tour of duty, he was reassigned as chief of staff, Joint Task Force Provide Promise, for operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Republic of Macedonia.[7]
Returning to the United States, he was advanced to the rank of major general in July 1994 and was assigned as commanding general, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Forces Atlantic, MCB Camp Lejeune. Jones next served as director, Expeditionary Warfare Division (N85), Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, during 1996, then as the deputy chief of staff for plans, policies, and operations, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. He was advanced to lieutenant general on July 18, 1996. His next assignment was as the military assistant to the Secretary of Defense.[6]
Commandant
On April 21, 1999, Jones was nominated for appointment to the grade of general and assignment as the 32nd commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to general on June 30, 1999, and assumed the post on July 1, 1999. He served as commandant until January 2003, turning over the reins to General Michael Hagee[8]
Among other innovations during his career as Marine Corps commandant, Jones oversaw the Marine Corps' development of MARPAT camouflage uniforms, and the adoption of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP). These replaced M81 Woodland uniforms and the LINE combat system, respectively.
SACEUR/EUCOM
Jones assumed duties as the commander of U.S. European Command on January 16, 2003, and supreme allied commander Europe the following day. He was the first Marine Corps general to serve as SACEUR/EUCOM commander.
The Marine Corps had only recently begun to take on a larger share of high-level assignments in the Department of Defense. As of December 2006, Jones was one of five serving Marine Corps four-star general officers who outranked the current commandant of the Marine Corps (General James T. Conway) in terms of seniority and time in grade — the others being Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Peter Pace; former commandant Michael Hagee, commander of U.S. Strategic Command James E. Cartwright, and Assistant Commandant Robert Magnus.[9]
As SACEUR, Jones led the Allied Command Operations (ACO), comprising NATO’s military forces in Europe, from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, Mons, Belgium, Jones relinquished command as SACEUR on December 7, 2006, and was succeeded by U.S. Army Gen. John Craddock.[10]
Jones was reported to have declined an opportunity to succeed Gen. John P. Abizaid as commander of U.S. Central Command,[11] and stepped down as SACEUR on December 4, 2006. He retired from the Marine Corps on February 1, 2007.[10]
Awards and decorations
Jones' personal decorations include (Foreign and non-U.S. personal and unit decorations are in order of precedence based on military guidelines and award date):
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Post-military career
Business roles
Following his retirement from the military, Jones became president of the Institute for 21st Century Energy,[17] an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce;[17] he also served as chair of the board of directors of the Atlantic Council of the United States from June 2007[18] until January 2009, when he assumed the post of National Security Advisor.[19] Jones also served as a member of the guiding coalition for the Project on National Security Reform, as well as chairman of the Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces.[20] He was a member of the Board of directors of The Boeing Company from June 21, 2007 to December 15, 2008, serving on the company's Audit and Finance Committees.[21][22] Jones was also a member of the Board of directors of Cross Match Technologies, a privately held biometric solutions company, from October 2007 to January 2009.[23][24]
Jones was employed on the Board of Trustees of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan think-tank, from 2007 to 2008, and then began serving again in 2011.[25] He was a member of the Board of directors of Chevron Corporation from May 28, 2008 to December 5, 2008, serving on the Board Nominating and Governance and Public Policy Committees.[26][27] [28] According to the first report since Jones re-entered government service in January 2009, Jones earned a salary and bonus of $900,000 from the US Chamber, as well as director fees of $330,000 from the Boeing Company and $290,000 from the Chevron Corporation.[29]
After leaving the Obama administration, Jones returned as a Fellow at the US Chamber in 2011.[30]
The board of directors of General Dynamics has elected Jones to be a director of the corporation, effective August 3, 2011. Also, on January 13, 2012, Jones joined Deloitte Consulting LLP as a senior adviser who will work with Federal and commercial consulting clients within Deloitte's Department of Defense and Intel segments. In early 2013, Jones joined OxiCool Inc's Advisory Board.[31]
Diplomatic roles
Then-Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Jones twice to be Deputy Secretary of State after Robert Zoellick resigned. He declined.[32]
On May 25, 2007, Congress created an Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq to investigate for 120 days the capabilities of the Iraq armed forces and police.[33] Jones served as chairman of that commission and reported on Congress on September 6, 2007[34] noting serious deficiencies in the Iraq Interior Ministry and in the Iraq National Police.
Rice appointed Jones as a special envoy for Middle East security on November 28, 2007, to work with both Israelis and Palestinians on security issues.[35][36]
Jones serves as a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), where he works on a variety of national security and energy-related issues.[37] Jones is also a co-chair of BPC's Energy Project.
National Security Advisor
On December 1, 2008 then-President-elect Obama announced Jones as his selection for National Security Advisor.[38][39] The National Security Advisor is appointed by the President without confirmation by the United States Senate.
The pick surprised people because, as Michael Crowley reported "The two men didn't meet until Obama's foreign policy aide, Mark Lippert, arranged a 2005 sit-down, and, as of this October, Jones had only spoken to Obama twice".[40] Crowley speculated that Jones' record suggests he is "someone who, unencumbered by strong ideological leanings, can evaluate ideas dispassionately whether they come from left or right", and, "This is probably why Obama picked him". Jones was also picked because he is well respected and likely to possess the skills to navigate the other prestigious and powerful cabinet members.
Though he doesn't know Gates especially well, both men share long experience in the national security establishment (Gates was in the Air Force and previously headed the CIA). Jones and Clinton have a more direct connection, having bonded — as Hillary did with many military officials — during her tenure on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The two are said to have particularly clicked at a 2005 conference on security policy in Munich. Jones hosted a small private dinner that included Clinton and South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, among others; at the end of the convivial evening, according to one person present, Jones followed Clinton out to her car to visit in private.[40]
Jones assumed the post when Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009. He announced his resignation as National Security Advisor on October 8, 2010, and was succeeded by Thomas E. Donilon.[41]
It is also known that he got advised in certain matters, as remarked by him when he mentioned Henry Kissinger was helping advise him.[42]
Advocate for Iranian dissidents
In March 2013 Jones was quoted comparing the conditions for Iranians in a US camp in Iraq with the conditions of detention for captives held in the Guantanamo Bay detention camps.[43] While addressing the Iranian American Cultural Society of Michigan, Jones said Guantanamo captives "are treated far better" than the Iranian internees. Jones criticized other aspects of the Obama administration's policy on Iran. Foreign Policy magazine noted that Jones had not volunteered whether he had been paid for this speaking engagement.
Personal life
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who hired Jones as his military assistant, is quoted as saying Jones has a placid demeanor and a "methodical approach to problems — he’s able to view issues at both the strategic and tactical level".[44] While Commandant of the Marine Corps, Jones often signed emails as "Rifleman", as he served as an infantry officer.
Jones was also responsible for convincing country music artist Toby Keith that he should record and publish his popular concert hit "Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)".[45]
See also
- James L. Jones, Sr., decorated World War II Marine Corps officer, father of General James L. Jones, Jr.
- William K. Jones, decorated Marine Corps lieutenant general, served in combat in three wars; uncle of General James L. Jones[46]
Notes
- ↑ "Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq". Retrieved 5 January 2011.
- ↑ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/celeb/jamesjones.htm
- ↑ Wallechinsky, David (7 January 2009). "National Security Advisor: Who is James L. (Revolving Door) Jones?". Huffington Post. Retrieved 9 February 2009.
- ↑ Sorensen, Ted (23 July 2008). Episode 58: Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History (Podcast). Interview with Duncan Campbell. Personal Life Media. Living Dialogues. Retrieved 2008-12-02.
- 1 2 King, Jr, Neil (23 April 2007). "The Courting of General Jones — Candidates From Both Parties Woo Policy-Savvy Ex-Marine". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
- 1 2 3 Kolodkin, Barry. "The Obama Administration: James Jones Profile". US Foreign Policy. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- 1 2 "Defense Department Official Biography: Gen. James L. Jones". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
- ↑ Garamone, Jim (13 January 2003). "Transformation a Common Theme at Marine Commandant Change Ceremony". Defense Link (United States Department of Defense). American Forces Press Service. Retrieved 2008-12-03.
- ↑ "Public Directory of: U.S. Marine Corps General Officers & Senior Executives" (Microsoft Word). Senior Leader Management Branch (MMSL), Manpower & Reserve Affairs, United States Marine Corps. 6 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-06. External link in
|publisher=(help) - 1 2 "General JOHN CRADDOCK will be the new commander". SHAPE News (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), NATO). 4 December 2006. Retrieved 2006-12-06.
- ↑ Ignatius, David (November 9, 2006). "The Defense Secretary We Had, Tough — and Unaccountable". Washington Post. p. A29. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
- ↑ "Governor General announces the awarding of Military Valour Decorations, Meritorious Service Decorations and a Mention in Dispatches" (Press release). Governor General of Canada. 6 February 2007. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
- ↑ "President Ilves vähendas medalisadu ligi kolm korda" (in Estonian). Eesti Ekspress. 7 February 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ↑ President of the Republic of Lithuania. State Decorations
- ↑ "Decorations to foreign citizens" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Chancellor of Honorary Orders. 10 September 2006. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ↑ "Ein Mittler im transatlantischen Verhältnis geht" (in German). Berlin: Bundesministerium der Verteidigung. November 10, 2006. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
- 1 2 "Institute for 21st Century Energy". United States Chamber of Commerce.
- ↑ "General James L. Jones USMC (ret.) Elected Chairman of The Atlantic Council Board of Directors" (PDF) (Press release). Atlantic Council of the United States. May 18, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ↑ "Farewell and Congratulations to General Jones". Atlantic Council of the United States. January 13, 2009. Retrieved 20 January. Check date values in:
|access-date=(help) - ↑ Jones, James L. (September 12, 2007). "Remarks by General (ret.) James L. Jones at the Atlantic Council of the United States". Public Remarks. Atlantic Council of the United States.
- ↑ "Definitive Notice and Proxy Statement". The Boeing Company. 2008.
- ↑ "Boeing Director Gen. James Jones Resigns Board Seat". The Boeing Company. December 15, 2008.
- ↑ "Board of Directors: General James L. Jones". Cross Match Technologies. October 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- ↑ "Cross Match Announces General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.) Resigns from Board of Directors" (Press release). Cross Match Technologies. January 15, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
- ↑ "James L. Jones Rejoins CSIS Board of Trustees". CSIS.org. January 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
- ↑ Brown, Steven E.F. (26 March 2008). "Former USMC Commandant Jones nominated to Chevron board". San Francisco Business Times (Biz Journals). Retrieved 2008-03-29.
- ↑ "Board of Directors: General James L. Jones". Chevron. July 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
- ↑ "Enrique Hernandez Jr. Elected to Chevron Board of Directors; Gen. James L. Jones Resigns Following National Security Adviser Appointment". Chevron. December 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
- ↑ "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year" by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, wsj.online, April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.
- ↑ U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2011). General James Jones Named U.S. Chamber Fellow. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
- ↑ http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-james-jones-joins-developer-of-green-air-conditioning-oxicool-inc-202389021.html
- ↑ WSJ Capital Bureau (November 21, 2006). "Potential Deputies to Rice: No Thanks" (Blog). Washington Wire. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
- ↑ P.L. 110-28 § 1314(e)(2).
- ↑ Jones, General James L., USMC (retired) (Chairman) (6 September 2007). "The Report of the Independent Security Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-09-20.
- ↑ Rice, Condoleezza (28 November 2007). "Announcement of General James Jones as Special Envoy for Middle East Security". Secretary Rice's Remarks. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of State. Archived from the original (Public statement) on 2007-11-30. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ↑ Zacharia, Janine (28 November 2007). "Former NATO Commander Jones Named U.S. Mideast Envoy". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
- ↑ The Bipartisan Policy Center Welcomes General Jim Jones
- ↑ "Key members of Obama-Biden national security team announced" (Press release). The Office of the President Elect. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- ↑ "Obama names Clinton to top role in his team". Politics (MSNBC). Associated Press. 1 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-01.
- 1 2 Crowley, Michael (December 31, 2008). "Man in the Mirror". The New Republic. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
- ↑ Feller, Ben (Oct 8, 2010). "AP sources: Jones stepping down as Obama's national security adviser; Donilon to replace him". Canadian Press. Retrieved 8 October 2010.
- ↑ http://www.cfr.org/world/remarks-national-security-adviser-jones-45th-munich-conference-security-policy/p18515 Remarks by National Security Adviser Jones at 45th Munich Conference on Security Policy
- ↑ Josh Rogin (2013-03-12). "Jim Jones: Camp Liberty is worse than Guantanamo". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 2013-03-13.
- ↑ Barry, John; Ephron, Dan; Wolffe, Richard (8 December 2008). "The General’s Marching Orders". Newsweek. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
- ↑ "How do you like him now? Toby Keith blasts Peter Jennings and the Dixie Chicks, talks about the pleasures of burping and defends his hit song The Angry American". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. September 6, 2002.
- ↑ Hughes, LtCol Richard J., USAF (Summer 2008). "Book Review: Boys of ’67: From Vietnam to Iraq, the Extraordinary Story of a Few Good Men by Charles Jones. Stackpole Books". Air & Space Power Journal. Retrieved 14 January 2009.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to James L. Jones. |
- "General James L. Jones, Jr. - Retired". General Officer Biographies. United States Marine Corps. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- "General James L. Jones, USMC (Retired)". Who's Who in Marine Corps History. United States Marine Corps History Division. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- "General James L. Jones". SHAPE Biographies. Allied Command Operations, NATO. December 2, 2008. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- "National Security Advisor: General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret)". National Security Council. whitehouse.gov. Retrieved 27 April 2010.
- Thompson, Mark (December 1, 2008). "All the President's Men — National Security Advisor: James Jones Jr.". TIME. Retrieved December 3, 2008.
- Attribution
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.
External links
- James L. Jones collected news and commentary at The Washington Post
- Appearances on C-SPAN
- James L. Jones collected news and commentary at The New York Times
- Works by or about James L. Jones in libraries (WorldCat catalog)
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Charles Krulak |
Commandant of the Marine Corps 1999–2003 |
Succeeded by Michael Hagee |
| Preceded by Joseph Ralston |
Supreme Allied Commander Europe 2003–2006 |
Succeeded by Bantz Craddock |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Stephen Hadley |
National Security Advisor 2009–2010 |
Succeeded by Thomas Donilon |
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