Commanding Officer HMAS Newcastle
Commander Justin Jones, RAN
Commander Justin G. Jones, RAN was born in Adelaide, South Australia. Educated at Geelong Grammar School, he joined the Royal Australian Navy in January 1988 and is a graduate of the Royal Australian Naval College and the Australian Command and Staff College. He holds a Master of Management Studies, a Master of Arts (Strategy and Policy) and a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies. He is currently reading for a Master of Maritime Studies.
CMDR Jones is a Principal Warfare Officer with specialisations in surface warfare and advanced navigation. His early years at sea included service in HMA Ships Stalwart (II), Jervis Bay, Brisbane and Success while under training; and HMA Ships Bunbury, Westralia and Hobart as an Officer of the Watch. He later served in HMA Ships Wollongong, Sydney, Arunta and Manoora as Navigating Officer. Highlights of these years include representation at the 50th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence Fleet Review in 1995, completion of the inaugural RAN Advanced Navigation Course and commissioning of HMAS Arunta in 1998, the first RAN warship visit to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) since the Vietnam War in 1999, counter terrorism support for the Sydney 2000 Olympics and two operational deployments to the Solomon Islands supporting the peace monitoring process throughout 2000-01. CMDR Jones served as Executive Officer of HMAS Parramatta from late 2004 until mid 2006, a period which included a six month operational deployment to the Arabian Gulf supporting the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Iraq. This deployment resulted in the award of a Meritorious Unit Citation to Parramatta for meritorious service in the Gulf.
CMDR Jones’ staff postings have included serving as an instructor at the Navigation Faculty of the RAN Surface Warfare School, two years exchange with the Royal Navy as Staff Warfare Officer (Navigation)2 to Flag Officer Sea Training in Devonport, Plymouth, and as Operations Officer to Commodore Flotillas/Commander Deployable Joint Force Headquarters (Maritime). In 2006-07, he served as Commander Fleet Plans within Fleet Headquarters where he was responsible for fleet operational planning, exercise management and operational level international engagement, before completing the Australian Command and Staff Course in 2008.
CMDR Jones was awarded the 2006 Vice Admiral Viscount Nelson Trafalgar Bicentennial Sword of Excellence for leadership, and is the inaugural recipient of this award.
CMDR Jones is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Navigation, a Member and Councillor of the London based Nautical Institute, a Member of the Australian Naval Institute and the Royal United Services Institute. He is also an Honourary Member of the Nelson Society of Australia. CMDR Jones is a regular columnist for Seaways, the International Journal of the Nautical Institute, and also contributes to Navigation, the Journal of the Australian Institute of Navigation.
CMDR Jones’ academic interests lie in maritime strategy and sea power, particularly relating to the Indian Ocean. His other interests include a life long passion for football (soccer), watching rugby, water skiing and collecting naval antiques and memorabilia. CMDR Jones is married to Terrie. They have two daughters and reside in Sydney.
CMDR Jones took command of HMAS Newcastle on 19 December 2008.
