UMUC

Office of the President

John F. Jones, Jr.

John F. Jones, Jr.


John F. Jones, Jr. (“JJ”) is the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) vice president for Department of Defense Relations.

Mr. Jones came to UMUC in August 1998 as the director of UMUC’s regional locations. In 1999, he established a new unit responsible for national outreach efforts to the military. This unit’s role and responsibilities expanded and Mr. Jones was appointed to his present position in 2003. He is a key focal point for the university’s relationship with the U.S. armed forces and for developing programs to satisfy specific military education requirements. Mr. Jones’ unit also manages the university’s participation in special programs including the Navy College Partnership, eArmyU, the Army Degree Builder Program, and several programs with service war colleges and staff colleges. He works closely with UMUC-Europe and UMUC-Asia which, combined, account for the majority of UMUC’s military student body.

Prior to working for UMUC, Mr. Jones was a career Air Force officer, retiring after 26 years service with the rank of colonel. His early assignments included commanding a Minuteman III operational missile crew and serving in various executive support functions. He spent much of his career in the education and training field. His assignments included instructor duties at the Air Force’s leadership school for company grade officers, Squadron Officer School; program manager and executive officer at the Air Force Institute of Technology; and education program manager at Headquarters Air Force. As a senior officer, Mr. Jones returned to Squadron Officer School as the director of Curriculum, and, later, director of Student Operations and vice commandant. His final assignment on active duty was in the Pentagon as the director of the Education and Training Division at Headquarters Air Force.

He earned a bachelor’s degree (BS) in biology at the Ohio State University and a master’s degree (MA) in history from the University of Alabama. He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College and the National War College.