Jones earned a bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a master's degree in aerospace engineering and engineering mangement from the University of Dayton, and a doctorate in aerospace engineering from the University of Maryland.  Additionally, he was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 1986 and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Connecticut Air National Guard.  He recently won the Career Achievement in Industry Award for his distinguished career in the field of engineering at the 2012 Black Engineer of the Year Conference.