Rear Admiral Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones joined the Royal Australian Navy in January 1978 under the Navy scholarship scheme to pursue a career as a seaman officer. After graduating from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1980 he undertook professional seaman officer training in HMA Ships Melbourne, Supply and Derwent and the shore establishments Watson and Cerberus.

In 1986 Lieutenant Jones undertook his Principal Warfare Officer's Course (PWO) and, following graduation, joined HMAS Swan as the PWO Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Officer. In 1989 he was selected to study for a Masters Degree in Acoustic Engineering at the United States Post Graduate School, in Monterey California, and graduated in 1991. Promoted Lieutenant Commander in 1990 while studying, he joined HMAS Brisbane in 1992 as the PWO ASW Officer and operations officer.

Promoted Commander in 1996, he returned to Sea Training Group this time as the Fleet Executive and Damage Control Officer until 1998. He was then appointed to the Directorate of Naval Officers' Postings in 1999 as the Assistant Director, responsible for the management and leadership of all officer career managers for officers up to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

Commander Jones took command of HMAS Darwin in 2001 and was involved in Operation TREK; the Australian peace monitoring mission to the Solomon Islands. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC) in the 2001 Queens Birthday Honours List for his service as the Assistant Director in Naval Officer's Postings.

Promoted Captain in 2002, he was appointed as the Director Navy Force Structure and Warfare in the Navy Capability Preparedness and Plans Branch of Navy Headquarters. Following this he assumed command of HMAS Newcastle during 2004-05. In 2005 Newcastle deployed on Operation CATALYST which was the Australian operation to provide assistance to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq.

Captain Jones was promoted Commodore in February 2005 and was appointed to the position of Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans in Navy Headquarters. In 2006 he attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in Boston, USA and in mid-2007 he was appointed as the Director General Military Strategic Commitments. In 2008 he attended the Coalition Forces Maritime Component Command Course in Hawaii, sponsored by the Commander US Pacific Fleet.

In April 2009, Commodore Jones was appointed as the Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633 which was the combined task force providing national command over Australian Defence Force elements assigned to Operations CATALYST, KRUGER and SLIPPER supporting whole of government efforts in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East Area of Operations and the maritime approaches.

On return to Australia in November 2009, Commodore Jones was promoted Rear Admiral and appointed as the Head Navy People and Reputation (HNPAR). In January 2010 Rear Admiral Jones was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his combined efforts as the Director General Naval Capability, Performance and Plans and Director General Military Strategic Commitments.

Rear Admiral Jones assumed the role of Deputy Chief of Navy (DCN) on 18 February 2011. In 2012, during his tenure as DCN, Rear Admiral Jones attended the US Joint Warfighter Development Program 'Pinnacle' Course, designed to prepare senior flag officers for command of joint and coalition forces, and senior political positions. Trevor Jones took up the appointment as Head Military Strategic Commitments in April 2013. Rear Admiral Trevor Jones retired from the RAN in mid-2016.