General James L. Jones, U.S. Marine Corps (Ret.), is president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy. He is responsible for executing the Institute’s strategic mission of uniting energy stakeholders behind a common strategy to ensure that America’s energy supply is adequate, affordable, and secure while protecting the environment.
From July 1999 to January 2003, General Jones was the 32nd Commandant of the Marine Corps. After relinquishing command as Commandant, he assumed the positions of Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) and Commander of the United States European Command (COMUSEUCOM), positions he held until December 2006. During this final assignment, he encouraged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to regard global energy as a security issue and advocated that the alliance consider the defense of critical infrastructures as a 21st century collective security mission. General Jones retired from active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps on February 1, 2007, after more than 40 years of service.
General Jones is a decorated combat veteran who commanded at all operational levels during his career. His focus during his most senior military assignments was on preserving the reputation of the United States as a nation of great influence in the 21st century. He brings passion and commitment for finding practical solutions to the energy problems facing the nation, and he believes that the Energy Institute plays a key role in influencing our national and international energy policy in a nonpartisan manner.
In addition to having been awarded national and international military awards, General Jones received a bachelor of science degree (1966) and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (2002) from Georgetown University. In June 1985, he graduated from the National War College in Washington, D.C.
General Jones serves as chairman of three boards of directors: the Atlantic Council of the United States, the Armed Forces Benefit Association, and the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation. He also serves on several boards representing both the business and national security sectors of the United States. At the request of the U.S. Congress in 2007, General Jones chaired the Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq. Additionally, since November 2007, he has served as the Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security as requested by the Secretary of State.
General Jones is married to the former Diane Johnson of Bethesda, Maryland. They reside in McLean, Virginia, and have four children and eight grandchildren. |