10 Things You Didn’t Know About Gen. Jim Jones
The former general is President-elect Obama's selection for national security adviser
1. James Logan Jones was born Dec. 19, 1943, in Kansas City, Mo.
2. Jones spent most of his childhood in France, where his father worked for the farming machinery company International Harvester.
3. Jones returned to the United States for his last year of high school. He lived with relatives in Alexandria, Va., while he completed his senior year.
4. He attended Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, from which he graduated in 1966. Jones was a forward on Georgetown's basketball team.
5. After graduation, Jones joined the Marines. In 1967, he was sent to Vietnam, where he earned a Silver Star for valor.
6. Jones had a highly distinguished career in the Marines, serving at posts in the United States, Japan, Iraq, and Bosnia. He was the Marines' liaison officer to the U.S. Senate from 1979 to 1984. He also graduated from the National War College in 1985. From 1999 to 2003, Jones was commandant of the Marine Corps and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
7. During the Clinton administration, Jones served as the senior military assistant to Defense Secretary William Cohen. More recently, he has served as a special security envoy for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Israeli-Palestinian security.
8. In 2003, Jones was named commander of the U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. In the latter role, he commanded NATO forces. He was the first Marine to take this post—it's usually held by Army generals.
9. Jones retired from the military in 2007 to become president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy, a group that studies energy and security issues.
10. Jones and his wife, Diane, have four children.
Sources:
- Agence France-Presse
- Associated Press
- Boston Globe
- New York Times
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Washington Post
Reader Comments
thank you
Thank you for your service to the country Patrick (and Gen.Jones). Your country is proud of your service and hard work.
A Great and Outstanding Choice
I know because I served under his command, when we went into Northern Iraq, for Operations Provide Comfort, which he was the commanding officer for the command element 24th MEU, I was his SNCO Supply Chief. He was and still is a great leader. He will not dissapoint you.
Sgt. Ace
Semper Fi
Looks Like a Good Choice
Gen. Jones appears to be a good choice. He has the background, the experience, the education and credibility. All of these things contriubute to his potential for success. However, it will most likely be the unexpected events of the next four to eight years that will set the stage for him to perform. How he rises to each occasion and administers his new office will determine his place in history. While I did not vote for the new president, I will pray daily for his success. I shall also pray for the success of Gen. Jones. On the surface he appears to be a solid choice, cut from good stock and prepared as much as one man can be for these trying times.
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