James L. Jones

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For this person's father, see James L. Jones Sr.
For the actor, see James Earl Jones.

James L. Jones
21st United States National Security Advisor
In office
January 20, 2009 – October 8, 2010
PresidentBarack Obama
DeputyThomas E. Donilon
Preceded byStephen Hadley
Succeeded byThomas E. Donilon
14th Supreme Allied Commander Europe
In office
January 17, 2003 – December 7, 2006
Secretary GeneralGeorge Robertson
Alessandro Minuto-Rizzo (acting)
Jaap de Hoop Scheffer
Preceded byJoseph Ralston
Succeeded byBantz J. Craddock
32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps
In office
July 1, 1999 – January 12, 2003
PresidentBill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded byCharles C. Krulak
Succeeded byMichael Hagee
Personal details
Born
James Logan Jones Jr.

(1943-12-19) December 19, 1943 (age 80)
"V" Device)
Complete list

James Logan Jones Jr. (born December 19, 1943) is a retired United States Marine Corps four-star general and consultant who served as the 21st United States National Security Advisor from 2009 to 2010. During his military career, he served as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps from July 1999 to January 2003, and Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 2003 to 2006. 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.

Jones owns the consulting firms Ironhand Security LLC and Jones Group International LLC. He has worked as a paid adviser to the Saudi government.[2]

Early life and education

Jones was born in

forward on the 1963–64 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team.[6]

Military career

Jones visits Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in January 2002, wearing an early version of the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform in woodland MARPAT

In January 1967, Jones was commissioned a second lieutenant in the

first lieutenant in June 1968.[7]

Returning to the United States in December 1968, Jones was assigned to

captain in December 1970. From July 1973 until June 1974, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School, Marine Corps University, Marine Corps Base Quantico
, Virginia.

In November 1974, Jones received orders to report to the

2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, until December 1975.[7]

From January 1976 to August 1979, Jones served in the Officer Assignments Section at

captain.[6] He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1982.[8]

Senior staff and command

Alford McMichael (left) salutes as General Jones (center) relinquishes command to General Michael Hagee
(right)

Jones was selected to attend the

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, Jones 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, United States European Command in 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 North Macedonia.[8]

Returning to the United States, Jones was advanced to the rank of major general in July 1994 and was assigned as commanding general,

Marine Forces Atlantic, Marine Corps Base 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.[7]

Commandant

Jones examines an early MCCUU/MARPAT prototype during its testing phases
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul D. Wolfowitz and Jones at press conference announcing Jones as EUCOM Commander

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.[9]

Among other innovations during his tenure as Marine Corps commandant, Jones oversaw the Marine Corps' development of

M81 Woodland uniforms and the LINE combat system
, respectively.

Supreme Allied Commander Europe

Jones assumed duties as the commander of United States European Command (EUCOM) on January 16, 2003, and Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) 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

James E. Cartwright; and Assistant Commandant General Robert Magnus.[10]

As SACEUR, Jones led the

John P. Abizaid as commander of United States Central Command.[12] He retired from the Marine Corps on February 1, 2007.[11]

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):

V
Bronze star
Bronze star
Row 1 Defense Distinguished Service Medal
w/ 3 bronze oak leaf clusters
Row 2 Silver Star
award stars
valor device
 Combat Action Ribbon
Row 3 Navy Presidential Unit Citation Joint Meritorious Unit Award
w/ 2 oak leaf clusters 		Navy Unit Commendation Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation
w/ 4 service stars
Row 4 National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal National Defense Service Medal
w/ 2 service stars 		Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal Vietnam Service Medal
w/ 4 service stars
Row 5 Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 service star Armed Forces Service Medal Humanitarian Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
w/ 3 service stars
Row 6 Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon
w/ 1 service star
Vietnam Gallantry Cross

w/ bronze star 		Legion of Honor Commander National Order of Merit Officier
Row 7 Meritorious Service Cross, post-nominal: M.S.C.[13] Military Order of Italy, Commander Order of the Cross of the Eagle, 1st Class[14] Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas, Commander's Grand Cross[15]
Row 8
Military Order of Aviz, Grand Cross[16]
 Great Merit Cross - Grand Cross - Great Cross with Star and Sash[17]
Vietnam Gallantry Cross unit citation
 Vietnam Civil Actions unit citation
Row 9 NATO Meritorious Service Medal NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia Vietnam Campaign Medal Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
United States European Command Badge

Other recognition

In 2000, Jones received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[18]

Post-military career

Business roles

Following his retirement from the military, Jones became president of the Institute for 21st Century Energy,

Atlantic Council of the United States from June 2007[20] until January 2009, when he assumed the post of National Security Advisor.[21] 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.[22] 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.[23][24] 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.[25][26]

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.[27] 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.[28][29][30] 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.[31]

After leaving the Obama administration, Jones returned as a Fellow at the US Chamber in 2011.[32]

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.[33]

Jones established the consulting firms Ironhand Security LLC and Jones Group International LLC. The firms have worked for foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia. After the murder of Jamal Khashoggi by the Saudi regime, Jones downplayed his firms' work with the Saudi government and said that the remaining contract with them was about to expire. However, Jones's firms subsequently expanded its partnership with the Saudi regime. By 2022, his firms had four contracts with the Saudi government and employed 53 Americans in Riyadh, eight of whom were retired generals and admirals.[2]

Diplomatic roles

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asked Jones twice to be Deputy Secretary of State after Robert Zoellick resigned. He declined.[34]

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.[35] Jones served as chairman of that commission and reported on Congress on September 6, 2007,[36] 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.[37][38]

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.[39] Jones is also a co-chair of BPC's Energy Project.

Jones is an Advisory Board Member of Spirit of America, a 501(c)(3) organization that supports the safety and success of Americans serving abroad and the local people and partners they seek to help.[40]

National Security Advisor

Jones shakes hands with President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai.

On December 1, 2008, President-elect Obama announced Jones as his selection for National Security Advisor.[41][42] The National Security Advisor is appointed by the president without confirmation by the United States Senate.

The selection surprised people because, as

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.

Interior of a VH-3D Sea King Marine One transporting President Obama and Gen Jones

Though he did not know

Senate Armed Services Committee. The two were 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.[43]

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.[44]

Advocate for Iranian dissidents

In March 2013, Jones was quoted comparing the conditions for

Foreign Policy magazine
noted that Jones had not volunteered whether he had been paid for this speaking engagement.

Middle East consultancy

In March 2017, Jones reportedly began working as a paid consultant for the Ministry of Defense (Saudi Arabia). In 2019, he began working for the government of Libya, but stopped after a few months at the request of the State Department.[46]

Personal life

Former Secretary of Defense William Cohen, who hired Jones as his military assistant, said that Jones has a placid demeanor and a "methodical approach to problems—he's able to view issues at both the strategic and tactical level".[47]

Jones was also responsible for convincing country music artist

Courtesy of the Red, White, & Blue (The Angry American)".[48]

See also

Citations

  1. ^ "Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq". Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  2. ^ a b Whitlock, Craig; Jones, Nate (2022). "Retired U.S. generals, admirals take top jobs with Saudi crown prince". Washington Post.
  3. ^ "Ancestry® – Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History Records". freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  4. The Huffington Post
    . Retrieved February 9, 2009.
  5. ^ Sorensen, Ted (July 23, 2008). "Episode 58: Counselor: A Life at the Edge of History". Living Dialogues (Interview: Podcast). Interviewed by Duncan Campbell. Personal Life Media. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
  6. ^ a b King Jr., Neil (April 23, 2007). "The Courting of General Jones—Candidates From Both Parties Woo Policy-Savvy Ex-Marine". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2008.
  7. ^ a b c Kolodkin, Barry. "The Obama Administration: James Jones Profile". US Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "Defense Department Official Biography: Gen. James L. Jones". United States Department of Defense. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  9. ^ "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. December 6, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2006. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)[permanent dead link]
  10. ^ a b "General JOHN CRADDOCK will be the new commander". SHAPE News. Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), NATO. December 4, 2006. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved December 6, 2006.
  11. Washington Post
    . p. A29. Retrieved November 18, 2006.
  12. ^ "Governor General announces the awarding of Military Valour Decorations, Meritorious Service Decorations and a Mention in Dispatches" (Press release). Governor General of Canada. February 6, 2007. Archived from the original on November 17, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
  13. ^ "President Ilves vähendas medalisadu ligi kolm korda" (in Estonian). Eesti Ekspress. February 7, 2007. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  14. ^ "President of the Republic of Lithuania. State Decorations". Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  15. ^ "Decorations to foreign citizens" (in Portuguese). Portuguese Chancellor of Honorary Orders. September 10, 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  16. ^ "Ein Mittler im transatlantischen Verhältnis geht" (in German). Berlin: Bundesministerium der Verteidigung. November 10, 2006. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
  17. American Academy of Achievement
    .
  18. ^ a b "Institute for 21st Century Energy". United States Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on July 1, 2007.
  19. Atlantic Council of the United States. May 18, 2007. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on January 20, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  20. ^ "Farewell and Congratulations to General Jones". Atlantic Council of the United States. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  21. Atlantic Council of the United States. Archived from the original
    on March 18, 2008.
  22. ^ "Definitive Notice and Proxy Statement". The Boeing Company. 2008.
  23. ^ "Boeing Director Gen. James Jones Resigns Board Seat". The Boeing Company. December 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008.
  24. ^ "Board of Directors: General James L. Jones". Cross Match Technologies. October 2007. Archived from the original on October 17, 2007. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
  25. ^ "Cross Match Announces General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.) Resigns from Board of Directors" (Press release). Cross Match Technologies. January 15, 2009. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved January 15, 2009.
  26. ^ "James L. Jones Rejoins CSIS Board of Trustees". CSIS.org. January 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  27. ^ Brown, Steven E. F. (March 26, 2008). "Former USMC Commandant Jones nominated to Chevron board". San Francisco Business Times. Biz Journals. Retrieved March 29, 2008.
  28. ^ "Board of Directors: General James L. Jones". Chevron. July 2008. Archived from the original on August 3, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2008.
  29. ^ "Enrique Hernandez Jr. Elected to Chevron Board of Directors; Gen. James L. Jones Resigns Following National Security Adviser Appointment". Chevron. December 2008. Archived from the original on December 12, 2008. Retrieved December 10, 2008.
  30. ^ "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.
  31. ^ U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2011). General James Jones Named U.S. Chamber Fellow Archived May 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 3, 2011.
  32. ^ "General James Jones Joins Developer of Green Air Conditioning OxiCool, Inc". prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  33. ^ WSJ Capital Bureau (November 21, 2006). "Potential Deputies to Rice: No Thanks" (Blog). Washington Wire. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 11, 2008.
  34. ^ P.L. 110-28 § 1314(e)(2).
  35. ^ Jones, General James L., USMC (retired) (Chairman) (September 6, 2007). "The Report of the Independent Security Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2007.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ Rice, Condoleezza (November 28, 2007). "Announcement of General James Jones as Special Envoy for Middle East Security" (Public statement). Secretary Rice's Remarks. Washington, D.C.: United States Department of State. Retrieved November 29, 2007.
  37. ^ Zacharia, Janine (November 28, 2007). "Former NATO Commander Jones Named U.S. Mideast Envoy". Bloomberg. Retrieved November 5, 2008.
  38. ^ "The Bipartisan Policy Center Welcomes General Jim Jones". Archived from the original on May 30, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  39. ^ https://spiritofamerica.org/staff/general-james-jones[permanent dead link]
  40. ^ "Key members of Obama-Biden national security team announced" (Press release). The Office of the President Elect. December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  41. ^ "Obama names Clinton to top role in his team". Politics. NBC News. Associated Press. December 1, 2008. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
  42. ^ a b Crowley, Michael (December 31, 2008). "Man in the Mirror". The New Republic. Archived from the original on December 25, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008.
  43. ^ Feller, Ben (October 8, 2010). "AP sources: Jones stepping down as Obama's national security adviser; Donilon to replace him". Canadian Press. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  44. ^ Josh Rogin (March 12, 2013). "Jim Jones: Camp Liberty is worse than Guantanamo". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013.
  45. ^ Whitlock, Craig; Jones, Nate (October 18, 2022). "Retired U.S. Generals, Admirals Take Top Jobs with Saudi Crown Prince". Washington Post. Jones applied for authorization to work for the Saudis in November 2016 and received U.S. approval four months later, documents show. [...] In 2019, Jones, Wald and two retired Army lieutenant generals working for the company — Michael Barbero and Douglas Lute — applied for and obtained U.S. approval to advise the Libyan government on the disarmament and reintegration of militia fighters, documents show. [...] Wald told The Post that Jones Group worked in Libya for only a few months. [...] Jones said his company stopped working in Libya at the State Department's request because of the country's political instability.
  46. ^ Barry, John; Ephron, Dan; Wolffe, Richard (December 8, 2008). "The General's Marching Orders". Newsweek. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  47. ^ "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.
  48. Air & Space Power Journal. Archived from the original on October 3, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )

General references

Attribution

Public Domain This article incorporates

United States Government.[not specific enough to verify
]

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to James L. Jones.
Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Marine Corps
1999–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of United States European Command
2003–2006 		Succeeded by
Supreme Allied Commander Europe
2003–2006
Political offices
Preceded by National Security Advisor
2009–2010 		Succeeded by
† Remained from previous administration
.