Editing James L. Jones (section)

==Post-military career==
===Business roles===
Following his retirement from the military, Jones became president of the Institute for 21st Century Energy,<ref name=EnergyXXI>{{cite web|url=http://www.energyxxi.org/xxi/default|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701120122/http://www.energyxxi.org/xxi/default|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 1, 2007 |title=Institute for 21st Century Energy|publisher=[[United States Chamber of Commerce]]}}</ref> an affiliate of the [[United States Chamber of Commerce|US Chamber of Commerce]];<ref name=EnergyXXI/> he also served as chair of the board of directors of the [[Atlantic Council of the United States]] from June 2007<ref name=AtlanticCouncil_20070518>{{cite press release|access-date=November 30, 2008 |url=http://www.acus.org/docs/Press%20Release/070518-JONES%20ELECTED%20ATLANTIC%20COUNCIL%20CHAIRMAN.pdf|publisher=[[Atlantic Council of the United States]]|date=May 18, 2007|title=General James L. Jones USMC (ret.) Elected Chairman of The Atlantic Council Board of Directors|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120221600/http://www.acus.org/docs/Press%20Release/070518-JONES%20ELECTED%20ATLANTIC%20COUNCIL%20CHAIRMAN.pdf|archive-date=January 20, 2009}}</ref> until January 2009, when he assumed the post of National Security Advisor.<ref name=Farewell>{{cite web|access-date=January 20, 2018 |url=http://www.acus.org/event_blog/general-jones-congratulated-bid-farewell-atlantic-council|title=Farewell and Congratulations to General Jones|date=January 13, 2009|publisher=Atlantic Council of the United States|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218154218/http://www.acus.org/event_blog/general-jones-congratulated-bid-farewell-atlantic-council|archive-date=February 18, 2012}}</ref>  Jones also served as a member of the guiding coalition for the [[Project on National Security Reform]], as well as chairman of the Independent Commission on the Iraqi Security Forces.<ref name=AtlanticCouncil_20070912>{{cite web|url=http://www.acus.org/Gen_James_L_Jones_Atlantic_Council_09-12-2007_page2.asp |title=Remarks by General (ret.) James L. Jones at the Atlantic Council of the United States|last=Jones|first=James L.|work=Public Remarks|date=September 12, 2007|publisher=[[Atlantic Council of the United States]]|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080318203442/http://www.acus.org/Gen_James_L_Jones_Atlantic_Council_09-12-2007_page2.asp |archive-date=March 18, 2008}}</ref> He was a member of the [[board of directors]] of [[Boeing|The Boeing Company]] from June 21, 2007, to December 15, 2008, serving on the company's Audit and Finance Committees.<ref name=BoeingProxyStatement2008>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/12927/000119312508057498/ddef14a.htm#toc96257_23|title=Definitive Notice and Proxy Statement|publisher=The Boeing Company|year=2008|access-date=September 1, 2017|archive-date=August 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818142538/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/12927/000119312508057498/ddef14a.htm#toc96257_23|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=BoeingNewsRelease081215b>{{cite web |url=http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q4/081215b_nr.html|title=Boeing Director Gen. James Jones Resigns Board Seat |publisher=The Boeing Company|date=December 15, 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217044639/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q4/081215b_nr.html|archive-date=December 17, 2008}}</ref> Jones was also a member of the board of directors of [[Cross Match Technologies]], a privately held biometric solutions company, from October 2007 to January 2009.<ref name=CMTboard>{{cite web|access-date=December 12, 2008|url=http://www.crossmatch.net/pr/Jones_10_03_07.html|title=Board of Directors: General James L. Jones|publisher=Cross Match Technologies|date=October 2007|archive-date=October 17, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017162821/http://crossmatch.net/pr/Jones_10_03_07.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=CMTNSA_resignation>{{cite press release|access-date=January 15, 2009 |url=http://www.crossmatch.com/pr/1_12_09.html|title=Cross Match Announces General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret.) Resigns from Board of Directors|publisher=Cross Match Technologies|date=January 15, 2009|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211238/http://www.crossmatch.com/pr/1_12_09.html|archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref>

Jones was employed on the board of trustees of the [[Center for Strategic and International Studies]] (CSIS), a bipartisan think-tank, from 2007 to 2008, and then began serving again in 2011.<ref name=CSISBoard>{{cite web|access-date=January 5, 2011|url=http://csis.org/press/press-release/former-national-security-advisor-general-james-jones-rejoins-csis-board-trustees|title=James L. Jones Rejoins CSIS Board of Trustees|publisher=CSIS.org|date=January 2011|archive-date=January 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110107022503/http://csis.org/press/press-release/former-national-security-advisor-general-james-jones-rejoins-csis-board-trustees|url-status=live}}</ref> He was a member of the board of directors of [[Chevron Corporation]] from May 28, 2008, to December 5, 2008, serving on the Board Nominating and Governance and Public Policy Committees.<ref name=BizJournal>{{cite news|access-date=March 29, 2008|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/03/24/daily29.html|title=Former USMC Commandant Jones nominated to Chevron board|work=San Francisco Business Times|author=Brown, Steven E. F.|date=March 26, 2008|publisher=Biz Journals|archive-date=May 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525215653/http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/03/24/daily29.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CVXboard2008>{{cite web|access-date=August 24, 2008|url=http://www.chevron.com/about/leadership/boardofdirectors/jones/ |title=Board of Directors: General James L. Jones|publisher=Chevron|date=July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803081859/http://www.chevron.com/about/leadership/boardofdirectors/jones/  |archive-date=August 3, 2008}}</ref><ref name=CVXboard2008-12-10>{{cite web|access-date=December 10, 2008 |url=http://www.chevron.com/news/press/release/?id=2008-12-10|title=Enrique Hernandez Jr. Elected to Chevron Board of Directors; Gen. James L. Jones Resigns Following National Security Adviser Appointment|publisher=Chevron|date=December 2008|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212163629/http://www.chevron.com/news/press/release/?id=2008-12-10|archive-date=December 12, 2008}}</ref>
According to the first report since Jones re-entered government service in January 2009, Jones earned a salary and bonus of $900,000 from the US Chamber, as well as director fees of $330,000 from the [[Boeing Company]] and $290,000 from the [[Chevron Corporation]].<ref>[https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123879462053487927 "Hedge Fund Paid Summers $5.2 Million in Past Year"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929003253/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123879462053487927 |date=September 29, 2021 }} by John D. McKinnon and F. W. Farnum, ''wsj.online'', April 4, 2009. Retrieved 4/5/09.</ref>

After leaving the Obama administration, Jones returned as a Fellow at the US Chamber in 2011.<ref>U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2011). [http://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2011/march/general-james-jones-named-us-chamber-fellow General James Jones Named U.S. Chamber Fellow] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524153445/https://www.uschamber.com/press/releases/2011/march/general-james-jones-named-us-chamber-fellow |date=May 24, 2011 }}. Retrieved April 3, 2011.</ref>

The board of directors of [[General Dynamics]] has elected Jones to be a director of the corporation, effective August 3, 2011. Also, on January 13, 2012, Jones joined Deloitte Consulting LLP as a senior adviser who will work with Federal and commercial consulting clients within Deloitte's Department of Defense and Intel segments. In early 2013, Jones joined OxiCool Inc's Advisory Board.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-james-jones-joins-developer-of-green-air-conditioning-oxicool-inc-202389021.html|title=General James Jones Joins Developer of Green Air Conditioning OxiCool, Inc.|website=prnewswire.com|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924145000/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/general-james-jones-joins-developer-of-green-air-conditioning-oxicool-inc-202389021.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Jones established the consulting firms Ironhand Security LLC and Jones Group International LLC. The firms have worked for foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia. After the [[Assassination of Jamal Khashoggi|murder of Jamal Khashoggi]] by the Saudi regime, Jones downplayed his firms' work with the Saudi government and said that the remaining contract with them was about to expire. However, Jones's firms subsequently expanded its partnership with the Saudi regime. By 2022, his firms had four contracts with the Saudi government and employed 53 Americans in Riyadh, eight of whom were retired generals and admirals.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last1=Whitlock |first1=Craig |last2=Jones |first2=Nate |date=2022 |title=Retired U.S. generals, admirals take top jobs with Saudi crown prince |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/veterans-us-foreign-jobs-saudi-arabia/ |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |access-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018144110/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/veterans-us-foreign-jobs-saudi-arabia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Diplomatic roles===
[[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Condoleezza Rice]] asked Jones twice to be [[United States Deputy Secretary of State|Deputy Secretary of State]] after [[Robert Zoellick]] resigned. He declined.<ref name=DepSoS>{{cite web|access-date=May 11, 2008|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/11/21/potential-deputies-to-rice-no-thanks/|date=November 21, 2006|title=Potential Deputies to Rice: No Thanks|work=Washington Wire|format=Blog|author=WSJ Capital Bureau|publisher=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|archive-date=December 21, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221015904/http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2006/11/21/potential-deputies-to-rice-no-thanks/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On May 25, 2007, Congress created an Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq to investigate for 120 days the capabilities of the Iraq armed forces and police.<ref>P.L. 110–28 § 1314(e)(2).</ref> Jones served as chairman of that commission and reported on Congress on September 6, 2007,<ref name=CSpan_20070906>{{cite news|access-date=September 20, 2007|url=http://www.c-span.org/pdf/jonesreport090607.pdf|title=The Report of the Independent Security Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq |last=Jones|first=General James L. USMC (retired) (Chairman)|date=September 6, 2007|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011044722/http://www.c-span.org/pdf/jonesreport090607.pdf|archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref> noting serious deficiencies in the Iraq Interior Ministry and in the Iraq National Police.

Rice appointed Jones as a special envoy for Middle East security on November 28, 2007, to work with both [[Israel]]is and [[Palestinians]] on security issues.<ref name=RiceNov2007>{{cite web|access-date=November 29, 2007|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/11/95838.htm|title=Announcement of General James Jones as Special Envoy for Middle East Security|first=Condoleezza|last=Rice|author-link=Condoleezza Rice|work=Secretary Rice's Remarks|format=Public statement|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|location=Washington, D.C.|date=November 28, 2007|archive-date=February 5, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205074854/http://2001-2009.state.gov/secretary/rm/2007/11/95838.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Bloomberg_Zacharia_20071128>{{cite news|access-date=November 5, 2008
|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=ae2RGIfF0kB8&refer=home|title=Former NATO Commander Jones Named U.S. Mideast Envoy|date=November 28, 2007|last=Zacharia|first=Janine|publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]}}</ref>

Jones serves as a Senior Fellow at the [[Bipartisan Policy Center]] (BPC), where he works on a variety of national security and energy-related issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/news/press-releases/2011/02/bipartisan-policy-center-welcomes-general-jim-jones|title=The Bipartisan Policy Center Welcomes General Jim Jones|access-date=July 30, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530092634/http://bipartisanpolicy.org/news/press-releases/2011/02/bipartisan-policy-center-welcomes-general-jim-jones|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jones is also a co-chair of BPC's Energy Project.

Jones is an Advisory Board Member of [[Spirit of America (charity)|Spirit of America]], a [[501(c)(3) organization]] that supports the safety and success of Americans serving abroad and the local people and partners they seek to help.<ref name=SOA-bio>{{cite web|accessdate=May 19, 2025|url=https://spiritofamerica.org/about/team/james-jones
|title=Board of Advisors: General James Jones, US Marine Corps, Retired|publisher=Spirit of America}}</ref>

===National Security Advisor===
[[File:Msc 2009-Sunday, 8.30 - 11.00 Uhr-Zwez 005 Ischinger Jones Karzei.jpg|thumb|220px|Jones shakes hands with [[President of Afghanistan]] [[Hamid Karzai]].]]

On December 1, 2008, President-elect Obama announced Jones as his selection for [[National Security Advisor (United States)|National Security Advisor]].<ref name=Change.gov_20081201>{{cite press release|access-date=December 1, 2008 |url=http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/key_members_of_obama_biden_national_security_team_announced/|title=Key members of Obama-Biden national security team announced|date=December 1, 2008|publisher=The Office of the President Elect|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201182614/http://change.gov/newsroom/entry/key_members_of_obama_biden_national_security_team_announced/|archive-date=December 1, 2008}}</ref><ref name=msnbc>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |title=Obama names Clinton to top role in his team |date=December 1, 2008 |work=Politics |publisher=[[NBC News]] |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna27983003 |access-date=December 1, 2008 |archive-date=February 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227083922/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27983003/ |url-status=live }}</ref>  The National Security Advisor is appointed by the president without confirmation by the United States Senate.

The selection surprised people because, as [[Michael Crowley (journalist)|Michael Crowley]] reported, "The two men didn't meet until Obama's foreign policy aide, [[Mark Lippert]], arranged a 2005 sit-down, and, as of this October, Jones had only spoken to Obama twice".<ref name = crowley>{{cite magazine|last=Crowley|first=Michael|title=Man in the Mirror|magazine=The New Republic|date=December 31, 2008|url=http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=739be2da-4d50-49ee-b1c1-60eb865a69c6|access-date=January 12, 2008|archive-date=December 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225005631/http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=739be2da-4d50-49ee-b1c1-60eb865a69c6|url-status=dead}}</ref> Crowley speculated that Jones' record suggests he is "someone who, unencumbered by strong ideological leanings, can evaluate ideas dispassionately whether they come from [[political left|left]] or [[political right|right]]", and, "This is probably why Obama picked him". Jones was also picked because he is well respected and likely to possess the skills to navigate the other prestigious and powerful cabinet members.

[[File:Obama, Clinton, Gates, Jones and Mullen in Marine One.jpg|thumb|Interior of a VH-3D Sea King [[Marine One]] transporting President Obama and Gen Jones]]

Though he did not know [[Robert Gates|Gates]] especially well, both men shared long experience in the national security establishment (Gates was in the [[United States Air Force|Air Force]] and previously headed the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]). Jones and [[Hillary Clinton|Clinton]] had a more direct connection from her tenure on the [[Senate Armed Services Committee]]. The two were said to have particularly clicked at a 2005 [[Munich Security Conference|conference on security policy]] in [[Munich]]. Jones hosted a small private dinner that included Clinton and [[South Carolina]] Republican Senator [[Lindsey Graham]], among others; at the end of the convivial evening, according to one person present, Jones followed Clinton out to her car to visit in private.<ref name = crowley/>

Jones assumed the post when Obama was sworn into office on January 20, 2009. He announced his resignation as National Security Advisor on October 8, 2010, and was succeeded by [[Thomas E. Donilon]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Feller|first=Ben|title=AP sources: Jones stepping down as Obama's national security adviser; Donilon to replace him |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gD-6wdjYRjpr-4VV4vZb_eFtjbjg?docId=4777657|publisher=Canadian Press |access-date=October 8, 2010|date=October 8, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Advocate for Iranian dissidents===
In March 2013, Jones was quoted comparing the conditions for [[Iran]]ians in a US camp in [[Iraq]] with the conditions of detention for captives held in the [[Guantanamo Bay detention camp]]s.<ref name=ForeignPolicy2013-03-12>{{cite magazine |url=http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/03/12/jim_jones_camp_liberty_is_worse_than_guantanamo|title=Jim Jones: Camp Liberty is worse than Guantanamo|magazine=[[Foreign Policy]]|author=Josh Rogin|date=March 12, 2013|archive-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318155512/http://thecable.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/03/12/jim_jones_camp_liberty_is_worse_than_guantanamo |url-status=live}}</ref> While addressing the Iranian American Cultural Society of Michigan, Jones said Guantanamo captives "are treated far better" than the Iranian internees. Jones criticized other aspects of the Obama administration's policy on Iran. [[Foreign Policy (magazine)|''Foreign Policy'' magazine]] noted that Jones had not volunteered whether he had been paid for this speaking engagement.

===Middle East consultancy===
In March 2017, Jones reportedly began working as a paid consultant for the [[Ministry of Defense (Saudi Arabia)]]. In 2019, he began working for the government of [[Libya]], but stopped after a few months at the request of the State Department.<ref>{{cite news | last1=Whitlock | first1=Craig | last2=Jones | first2=Nate | title=Retired U.S. Generals, Admirals Take Top Jobs with Saudi Crown Prince | date=October 18, 2022 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/veterans-us-foreign-jobs-saudi-arabia/ | newspaper=Washington Post | quote=Jones applied for authorization to work for the Saudis in November 2016 and received U.S. approval four months later, documents show. [...] In 2019, Jones, Wald and two retired Army lieutenant generals working for the company — Michael Barbero and Douglas Lute — applied for and obtained U.S. approval to advise the Libyan government on the disarmament and reintegration of militia fighters, documents show. [...] Wald told The Post that Jones Group worked in Libya for only a few months. [...] Jones said his company stopped working in Libya at the State Department’s request because of the country’s political instability. | access-date=October 18, 2022 | archive-date=October 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018144110/https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/veterans-us-foreign-jobs-saudi-arabia/ | url-status=live }}</ref>