General
James L. Jones, 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps,
was born on 19 December 1943 in Kansas City, Missouri.
He graduated in 1966 from the Georgetown University
School of Foreign Service with a Bachelor of Science
degree, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in
the Marine Corps in January 1967. Upon completion
of The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, in October
1967, he was ordered to the Republic of Vietnam, where
he served as a Platoon and Company Commander with
Company G, 2d Battalion, 3d Marines. While overseas,
he was promoted to first lieutenant in June 1968.
Returning
to the United States in December 1968, 1stLt Jones
was assigned to 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. He was promoted to
captain in December 1970. From July 1973 until June
1974, he was a student at the Amphibious Warfare School,
Quantico.
In
November 1974, he received orders to report to the
3d Marine Division on Okinawa, where he served as
the Commander of Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines,
until December 1975. From January 1976 to August 1979,
Capt 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. He
was promoted to lieutenant colonel in September 1982.
He
was selected to attend the National War College in
Washington, D.C., and following graduation in June
1985, was assigned to command the 3d Battalion, 9th
Marines. In August 1987, LtCol Jones returned to Headquarters,
Marine Corps, and 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 in February 1989.
During
August 1990, he was assigned as Commanding Officer,
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, and participated in
Operation Provide Comfort in Northern Iraq and Turkey.
He was advanced to brigadier general in April 1992,
and assigned during July 1992 as Deputy Director,
J-3, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany. During
this tour of duty, he was reassigned as Chief of Staff,
Joint Task Force Provide Promise, for operations in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia.
Returning
to the United States, he was advanced to the rank
of major general in July 1994, and was assigned as
Commanding General, 2d Marine Division, Marine Forces
Atlantic, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. MajGen 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 18 July 1996.
His
next assignment was as the Military Assistant to the
Secretary of Defense. He was promoted to general on
30 June 1999, and became the 32nd Commandant of the
United States Marine Corps on 1 July 1999. He served
in this capacity until 13 January 2003.
General
Jones assumed duties as the Commander of U.S. European
Command on 16 January 2003, and Supreme Allied Commander
Europe on 17 January 2003. From the Supreme Headquarters
Allied Power Europe, Mons, Belgium, Gen Jones led
Allied Command Europe (ACE), comprising NATO's military
forces in Europe. As COMUSEUCOM, Gen Jones commanded
five U.S. components: U.S. Army, Europe; U.S. Navy,
Europe; U.S. Air Forces, Europe; U.S. Marine Forces,
Europe; and Special Operations Command, Europe.
General
Jones retired from the Marine Corps 1 February 2007
after 40 years of service. On 1 December 2008,
President-elect Barack Obama named Gen Jones to the
post of National Security Advisor for his incoming
administration.
General
Jones' personal decorations include: Defense Distinguished
Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Silver Star
Medal, Legion of Merit with four gold stars, Bronze
Star Medal with Combat "V", and the Combat
Action Ribbon.
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