[1] 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.

He commanded a detachment of helicopters tasked to evaluate their role in the complex operational environment of the Attack Carrier.

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.

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.