Donald S. Jones
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral Donald S. Jones (May 18, 1928–December 13, 2004) was a United States Navy
admiral.
, graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
, earned an MSA Degree from George Washington University
, completed the Naval Postgraduate School
course in National Security Affairs and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
.
Jones commenced active duty as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1950 and after receiving his "Wings of Gold
" he began a career long association with helicopters and fixed-wing anti-submarine warfare. Postings with Air Development Squadron One, as a test and evaluation pilot, and Helicopter Squadrons One and Five were devoted to integrating the ASW helicopter into attack carrier aviation. He commanded a detachment of helicopters tasked to evaluate their role in the complex operational environment of the Attack Carrier. This deployment set the stage for the routine involvement of the helicopter in Battle Group operations.
While Commanding Officer of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Four (HS-4
"Black Knights"), he was tasked to NASA to develop night and all-weather astronaut recovery procedures for the Apollo program. As a result of this effort, HS-4 was designated the helicopter recovery squadron for five Apollo missions – 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Jones himself was the recovery pilot for the first moon orbital flight of Apollo 8
and the first moon landing flight of Apollo 11
. The primary recovery ship for Apollo 11 was .
Jones had a total of seven Command assignments at sea including Carrier ASW Air Group Fifty-Three, , Amphibious Squadron Seven, Amphibious Group One, and Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet
. His last operational assignment was Commander, Third Fleet, with responsibility of the training and readiness of all Naval forces from the West Coast of the United States.
Shore assignments included duty on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations
, Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, DCNO for Operations Plans and Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense as Director of East Asia Policy and Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary. His last billet prior to retirement was Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the only officer to have held this important post for both the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Defense.
After retirement as a Vice Admiral
, Jones was Trustee of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, the Naval Helicopter Association and the Association of Naval Aviation.
s, two Navy Distinguished Service Medal
s, the Legion of Merit
and numerous personal and theater awards.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
admiral.
Biography
Don Jones was born in Madison, WisconsinMadison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, earned an MSA Degree from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, completed the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
course in National Security Affairs and attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces
Industrial College of the Armed Forces
The Industrial College of the Armed Forces is a U.S. military educational institution tasked with preparing military officers and civilian government officials for leadership and executive positions in the field of national security...
.
Jones commenced active duty as a Naval Aviation Cadet in 1950 and after receiving his "Wings of Gold
United States Naval Aviator
A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
" he began a career long association with helicopters and fixed-wing anti-submarine warfare. Postings with Air Development Squadron One, as a test and evaluation pilot, and Helicopter Squadrons One and Five were devoted to integrating the ASW helicopter into attack carrier aviation. He commanded a detachment of helicopters tasked to evaluate their role in the complex operational environment of the Attack Carrier. This deployment set the stage for the routine involvement of the helicopter in Battle Group operations.
While Commanding Officer of Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Four (HS-4
HS-4
Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Four is a helicopter squadron of the United States Navy established in 1952.-1952–1968:HS-4 was commissioned on 30 June 1952 at U.S. Naval Auxiliary Landing Field, Imperial Beach, California, equipped with the Sikorsky HO4S-3.HS-4 was the first...
"Black Knights"), he was tasked to NASA to develop night and all-weather astronaut recovery procedures for the Apollo program. As a result of this effort, HS-4 was designated the helicopter recovery squadron for five Apollo missions – 8, 10, 11, 12 and 13. Jones himself was the recovery pilot for the first moon orbital flight of Apollo 8
Apollo 8
Apollo 8, the second manned mission in the American Apollo space program, was the first human spaceflight to leave Earth orbit; the first to be captured by and escape from the gravitational field of another celestial body; and the first crewed voyage to return to Earth from another celestial...
and the first moon landing flight of Apollo 11
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
. The primary recovery ship for Apollo 11 was .
Jones had a total of seven Command assignments at sea including Carrier ASW Air Group Fifty-Three, , Amphibious Squadron Seven, Amphibious Group One, and Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet
Task Force 76
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 is a United States Navy task force. It is at one and the same time operationally a Task Force of the United States Seventh Fleet and administratively, the USN's only permanently forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group...
. His last operational assignment was Commander, Third Fleet, with responsibility of the training and readiness of all Naval forces from the West Coast of the United States.
Shore assignments included duty on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
, Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence, DCNO for Operations Plans and Policy, Office of the Secretary of Defense as Director of East Asia Policy and Senior Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary. His last billet prior to retirement was Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the only officer to have held this important post for both the Deputy Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Defense.
After retirement as a Vice Admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
, Jones was Trustee of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, the Naval Helicopter Association and the Association of Naval Aviation.
Awards
Recognition for his military service includes two Defense Distinguished Service MedalDefense Distinguished Service Medal
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal is a United States military award which is presented for exceptionally distinguished performance of duty contributing to national security or defense of the United States...
s, two Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
s, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
and numerous personal and theater awards.