He attended Lanier High School where he was elected President of the Mississippi State Association of Student Councils and in 1973, graduated valedictorian.

He subsequently attended the United States Air Force Academy, where he was the middleweight boxing champion, cadet vice wing commander, and a 1977 honor graduate majoring in Mathematics.

He was transferred to the 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Clark AB in the Philippines and became flight leader and mission commander in Team Spirit and Cope Thunder exercises.

Jones worked as a federal judicial clerk for Judge Peter Fay in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, then as an Assistant Dade County Attorney at Miami International Airport.

On August 24, 1992, Hurricane Andrew devastated Representative Jones' House District while he was in the midst of a campaign for the State Senate.

[citation needed] On September 14, 2006, he was chosen as a nominee for the position of Lieutenant Governor of Florida by gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis.