Justin Jones (admiral)

Jones was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and was educated at Geelong Grammar School. He joined the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in January 1988. ==Naval career==

Jones's seagoing command career began when he was appointed Commanding Officer of in 2008. During his tenure aboard the guided missile frigate, he was responsible for operational readiness, regional engagement, and maritime security missions across the Indo-Pacific. Following this, he was selected as the Director of the Sea Power Centre – Australia in 2011, where he played a role in advancing naval strategic thinking and doctrine development within the RAN. In 2014, Jones assumed command of , the fleet replenishment ship, an appointment that included a deployment to the Middle East under Operation Manitou. From December 2014 to April 2015, under Jones’s leadership, HMAS Success conducted maritime security operations in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, intercepting narcotics and enforcing UN sanctions. For his leadership during this deployment, he was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours for "outstanding devotion to duty as the Commanding Officer, HMAS Success while deployed on Operation MANITOU from December 2014 to April 2015.". Returning to Australia, Jones was promoted to Commodore Training from 2016 to 2019, overseeing the professional development, education, and operational preparedness of Navy personnel. His leadership in this role contributed to the RAN's transition toward a technologically modern and skilled maritime workforce. He subsequently served as Director General Operations at Joint Operations Command between 2019 and 2021, where he was involved in high-level operational planning and coordination across the Australian Defence Force (ADF). In 2022, Jones assumed command of Maritime Border Command, a joint agency task force within the Australian Border Force and the ADF, responsible for protecting Australia’s maritime domain from illegal activities such as people smuggling, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2024 King's Birthday Honours for "distinguished service to the Royal Australian Navy in significant command positions." ==Education==

Jones is a graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College and the Australian Command and Staff College and holds a Master of Management Studies, a Master of Arts in Strategy and Policy, and a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security at the University of Wollongong. His doctoral research focuses on Australian defence policy and maritime strategy in the Indian Ocean since the early 2000s. ==References==