Rear
Admiral (Select) Nathan E. Jones earned a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism
from Southern Illinois University Carbondale in 1970 and then enlisted in the
Naval Reserve at age 21 as a Seaman Recruit. Following six years of reserve
enlisted service as a Cryptologist Technician Second Class Petty Officer including
a two-year tour at Commander in Chief Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii;
he received a direct commission as a restricted line officer in Public Affairs
in August 1976.
Rear Adm. (Sel.) Jones’ tours include: involuntarily recalled to active duty in February 2002 to work in the Public Affairs Office at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon; Public Affairs Officer for the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance in February 2003 which was headquartered in Baghdad; involuntarily recalled in 1990 to serve as Night Chief of Media and public affairs watch officer in General Norman Schwarzkopf’s War Room during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm; Commissioning committee USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) 1989; PAO for BALTOPS 93 and 94; Commanding Officer Navy Office of Information Midwest DET 113 Great Lakes 1996-1998, Commanding Officer of U.S. Strategic Command DET 1362 1998-2001. Commanding Officer Navy Office of Information Southeast Atlanta DET 108, 2001-2002, He is currently Commanding Officer, Navy Officer of Information West DET 119 in Encino, Calif.
On the civilian side, he is co-owner and General Manager of Gold Nugget Publications, four weekly Illinois newspapers. He is also co-owner of Five Star Printing, a web offset printing firm that prints 20 newspapers in central Illinois. He is a past president of Southern Illinois Press Association and past president of the Illinois Press Association and currently serves on the Illinois Press Foundation.
His personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, one Meritorious Service Medal, three Navy Commendation Medals, and three Navy Achievement Medals.
Updated: 1 October 2004
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