Allegiance United Kingdom Awards Order of the Bath Years of service 1980 – | Name Philip Jones Rank Vice admiral Role Royal Navy officer | |
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Commands held HMS BeaverHMS CoventryAmphibious Task GroupScotland, Northern England and Northern IrelandJoint Helicopter Command | ||
Admiral Sir Philip Andrew Jones (born 14 February 1960) is a senior Royal Navy officer. After service in the South Atlantic in 1982 during the Falklands War, he commanded the frigates HMS Beaver and HMS Coventry. He went on to be Flag Officer, Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland, Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces and Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff before being appointed Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff. Jones took over as First Sea Lord on 8 April 2016.
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Early life and education
Jones was born on 14 February 1960. He is the son of Edgar Jones and Lilian Jones (née Peters). He was educated at Birkenhead School, Mansfield College, Oxford and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
Naval career
Jones joined the Royal Navy as a sub-lieutenant on 1 May 1980. He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship HMS Fearless in 1982 during the Falklands War and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1982. He served as a watch keeping and navigation officer in various frigates and in the Royal Yacht Britannia from 1983 until 1988 from when he served as principal warfare officer in various frigates and with the maritime battle staff. Promoted to commander on 1 February 1994, he was made commanding officer of the frigate HMS Beaver in 1994 and a member of the Directorate of Navy Plans in the Ministry of Defence in 1997.
Promoted to captain on 31 December 1999, Jones became commanding officer of the frigate HMS Coventry as well as Captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron that same month. He went on to be Military Assistant to the Chief of Defence Logistics in 2002, Director of the Joint Maritime Operational Training Staff in 2003 and Assistant Chief of Staff to the Commander-in-Chief Fleet in 2004. Promoted to commodore on 13 December 2004, he became commander of the Amphibious Task Group in August 2006. Appointed an Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the Queen on 1 August 2006, he was promoted to rear admiral on 14 February 2008 and made Flag Officer, Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland that same month. Following his appointment as Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces in September 2008, he was given command of the European Union’s first naval task force assembled to protect international shipping in the waters off Somalia in December 2008. He was made Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in June 2009.
Jones was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honours. He was promoted to vice admiral and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief of Staff Navy Command Headquarters on 13 December 2011. His post was re-designated Deputy Fleet Commander in April 2012 and he became Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff on 30 November 2012. It was reported on 29 January 2016 that Jones would be promoted admiral and assume the position of First Sea Lord in April 2016. Jones handed over his duties of Fleet Commander to Vice Admiral Ben Key on 10 February 2016 and took over as First Sea Lord on 8 April 2016.
Jones was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 Birthday Honours.
Family and personal
In 1987 Jones married Elizabeth Collins; they have one son and two daughters. His interests include sports, reading and hill walking.
Honours and awards
Jones also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1993.