CAPT Eric J. Jones, USCG
CAPTAIN (CAPT) Eric J. Jones reported as SFLC’s Long Range Enforcer Product Line Manager in August 2020 where he directs comprehensive, fleet-wide life cycle support for all Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HM&E) & Weapons systems for all LRE assets including WMSLs, WHECs, ALEX HALEY, POLAR Class & HEALY. His leads a team of military, civilian, and contractors that are distributed throughout the continental US, AK, and HI. CAPT Jones most recent assignment was Senior Service School, serving as a Systems Design and Management Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge.
Previously, CAPT Jones served as the Executive Officer at Base Portsmouth, VA, where he led the delivery of all mission support activities (human capital, naval, civil, C4IT, medical, procurement) at the largest major cutter homeport in the Coast Guard. Additionally, he synchronized efforts to ensure support to over 100 operational units in the Mid-Atlantic region. Before this assignment, he served as the Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS) at C.G. Headquarters, Wash D.C. where he provided executive decision support to DCMS through coordination of strategy, policy, resources, and outreach for all mission support activities carried out by the 15,000 member $4B DCMS enterprise.
After graduating from Officer Candidate School in December 1998, CAPT Jones first assignment was aboard the USCGC COURAGEOUS (WMEC 622) in Panama City, FL, where he served as Damage Control Assistant and Assistant Engineer Officer. In 2001, he reported to Project Residence Office Marinette, WI, as the Mechanical Section Chief for the recently awarded Great Lakes Ice Breaker (MACKINAW) project. During this assignment, he had the unique opportunity to partner with the world-renowned ice-breaking experts in Scandinavia, where the Coast Guard procured it’s first-ever Azipod propulsion plant for a Coast Guard Cutter.
Following graduate school, CAPT Jones reported to Naval Engineering Support Unit Boston in 2006 as the ATON & Ice Breaking Section Chief and Port Engineer for the First Coast Guard District. Here he was responsible for preventive, corrective, and depot-level maintenance on 18 ATON and Ice-breaking cutters.
After honing his skills as a Port Engineer, CAPT Jones was assigned to USCGC MELLON (WHEC 717), Seattle, WA, as Engineer Officer in 2009. The highlight of this tour was a five-month deployment to Southeast Asia, where he was tasked with keeping an aging, complex plant operating under the most challenging conditions away from its typical support network. Afterward, CAPT Jones transferred to Sector Honolulu as the Logistics department head in July 2011. Here, he was responsible for all support functions, including engineering, training, funding, readiness, and admin support.
CAPT Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology from South Carolina State University in 1998. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Engineering Management from The George Washington University in 2006. In 2020, he earned a Master of Science in System Design and Management and a Certificate in Technical Leadership from MIT.
CAPT Jones’s personal military awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Coast Guard Commendation Medal (two awards), Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and COMDT’s letter of commendation ribbon bar (two awards). Additionally, he received the 2010 Black Engineer of the year (Modern Day Technology Leader). He was also honored in 2014 with the Captain D. Jarvis Inspirational leadership award that recognizes a Coast Guard Officer that has made outstanding contributions to the high standards of professional competence and leadership in the Coast Guard.
CAPT Jones is a native of Norway, SC, and is married to NeKeshia of Anderson, SC; they have one son, Lawrence.