Brig. Gen. Matt Jones is the Deputy Director for Operations, J3, Joint Staff, Arlington, Virginia. He is responsible for leading Operations Team Five in the National Military Command Center and overseeing national security activities including worldwide military operations and nuclear command and control.
Brig. Gen. Jones received his commission through the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1999 where he commanded the cadet wing. He has commanded at the squadron, and multiple times at the wing level. His staff assignments include the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, and Headquarters U.S. Air Force Staff. He was an Air Force Chief of Staff scholar at Harvard. He has flown combat missions in support of operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Prior to his current assignment, Brig. Gen. Jones was the Chief, Joint Operations Pacific Division, J3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
EDUCATION
1999 Bachelor of Science, Management, Distinguished Graduate, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo.
2000 Master of Business Administration, University of Pittsburgh, Pa.
2005 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
2010 Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2011 Master of Public Administration, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
2017 Master of Strategic Studies, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1999–August 2000, Student, Katz Graduate School of Business, Pittsburgh, Pa.
2. August 2000–April 2002, Student, Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
3. April 2002–June 2007, Chief Group Exec Officer, C-5 Instructor Pilot, 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
4. June 2007–June 2010, AMC Phoenix Mobility Intern, 621st CRW, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J.
5. June 2010–June 2011, Chief of Staff Scholar, Student, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Cambridge, Mass.
6. June 2011–June 2013, Office of the Secretary of Defense Policy, Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Persons Office, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
7. June 2013–May 2014, Chief of Safety, C-5 Instructor Pilot, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis AFB, Calif.
8. May 2014–July 2016, Commander, 22nd Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, Calif.
9. July 2016–June 2017, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pa.
10. June 2017–July 2018, Chief, Global Mobility Division and MAF Rated Career Field Manager, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
11. July 2018–January 2020, Vice Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
12. January 2020–May 2021, Commander, 436th Airlift Wing, Dover AFB, Del.
13. May 2021–August 2023, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, Joint Base Andrews, Md.
14. August 2023–June 2024, Division Chief, Indo-Pacific Division, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
15. June 2024–present, Deputy Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va.
SUMMARY OF JOINT ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 2011–June 2013, OSD Policy, Special Assistant to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Persons Office, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a lieutenant colonel
2. August 2023–June 2024, Division Chief, Indo-Pacific Division, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a colonel
3. May 2024–present, Deputy Director for Operations, J-3, Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Arlington, Va., as a brigadier general
FLIGHT INFORMATION
Rating: command pilot
Flight hours: more than 2,200
Aircraft flown: T-37B, T-1A, C-5A/B/C/M, C-32A
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Medal
Aerial Achievement Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal
Joint Service Achievement Medal
Air Force Achievement Medal
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2006 Air Mobility Command Company Grade Officer of the Year
2015 Department of Defense Collier Trophy Nomination
2016 Joseph M. Smith Trophy Winner
2021 Presidential Appointee, Commissioner, American Battle Monuments Commission
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant June 2, 1999
First Lieutenant June 2, 2001
Captain June 2, 2003
Major November 1, 2008
Lieutenant Colonel November 1, 2012
Colonel May 1, 2018
Brigadier General Frocked
(Current as of September 2024)