32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps
General James L. Jones was promoted to his current rank today
and will officially assume duties as the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps
July 1. He succeeds Gen. Charles C. Krulak.
The change of command was
the second major event at Marine Barracks Washington this week. On Monday, a
post and relief ceremony was conducted for incoming Sergeant Major of the
Marine Corps, Sgt. Maj. Alford L. McMichael, who will serve as the
Commandant's senior enlisted adviser. McMichael is the 14th Sergeant Major of
the Marine Corps. He succeeds Sgt. Maj. Lewis G. Lee.
BIOGRAPHY
(General James L. Jones) -- General Jones was born on Dec. 19, 1943, in
Kansas City, Mo. Having spent his formative years in France, he returned to
the United States to attend the Georgetown University School of Foreign
Service, from which he received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1966. He was
commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps in January 1967. Upon
completion of The Basic School, Quantico, Va., 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, General Jones was assigned to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he
served as a Company Commander until May 1970. He then received orders to
Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, 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, Va.
In November 1974, he received orders to report
to the 3d Marine Division on Okinawa, where he served as the Company Commander
of Company H, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, until December 1975.
From
January 1976 to August 1979, General Jones served in the Officer Assignments
Section at Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, DC. 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, DC. Following graduation in June 1985, he was assigned to
command the 3d Battalion, 9th Marines, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton,
Calif., from July 1985 to July 1987.
In August 1987, General 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 in February 1989. During
August 1990, General Jones was assigned as the Commanding Officer, 24th Marine
Expeditionary Unit at Camp Lejeune, N.C. 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. General 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-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, N.C. General 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, DC. He was
advanced to Lieutenant General on July 18, 1996.
His next assignment
was as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense. On April 21, 1999,
he was nominated for appointment to the grade of General and assignment as the
32d Commandant of the Marine Corps. He was promoted to General on June 30,
1999, and assigned duties as Commandant of the Marine Corps effective July 1,
1999.
General Jones' personal decorations include: the Defense
Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with three
gold stars, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V", and the Combat Action
Ribbon.
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