Philip Jones (Royal Navy officer)

Jones was born on 14 February 1960.{{cite news | title = Birthdays| work= The Guardian| page = 41| date = 14 February 2014}} He is the son of Edgar Jones and Lilian Jones (née Peters).Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010, {{ISBN|978-1-4081-1414-8}} He was educated at Birkenhead School, Mansfield College, Oxford and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.{{cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cmsUpload/CV_Rear-Admiral_JONES_Jan_2009.pdf |title=Rear-Admiral Philip Jones|publisher= European Union|access-date=30 January 2016}}

File:HMS Fearless (L10) off North Carolina 1996.JPEG]]

Jones joined the Royal Navy as a sub-lieutenant on 1 May 1980.{{London Gazette|issue=49296 |supp=y|page=3971|date=22 March 1983}} He saw active service in the South Atlantic in the amphibious assault ship {{HMS|Fearless|L10|6}} in 1982 during the Falklands War{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-naval-staff/fleet-commander|title=Fleet Commander – Royal Navy|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=30 January 2016}} and was promoted to lieutenant on 1 September 1982.{{London Gazette|issue=49344 |supp=y|page=6318|date=9 May 1983}} 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,{{London Gazette|issue=53562 |supp=y|page=1515|date=31 January 1994}} he was made commanding officer of the frigate {{HMS|Beaver|F93|6}} in 1994 and a member of the Directorate of Navy Plans in the Ministry of Defence in 1997.

File:HMS Coventry F98.jpg

Promoted to captain on 31 December 1999,{{London Gazette|issue=55728 |supp=y|page=217|date=11 January 2000}} Jones became commanding officer of the frigate {{HMS|Coventry|F98|6}} as well as Captain of the 1st Frigate Squadron that same month.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/ROYAL%20NAVY%20WARSHIPS.pdf|title=Captains Commanding Royal Navy Warships|access-date=30 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714184102/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/ROYAL%20NAVY%20WARSHIPS.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2015}} 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,{{London Gazette|issue=57502 |supp=y|page=15981|date=21 December 2004}} he became Commander Amphibious Task Group in August 2006. Appointed an Aide-de-camp (ADC) to the Queen on 1 August 2006,{{London Gazette |issue=58070|date=15 August 2006 |page=11139 |supp=y}} he was promoted to rear admiral on 14 February 2008{{London Gazette |issue=58608 |date=12 February 2008|page=2091 |supp=y}} and made Flag Officer, Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland that same month.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Senior%20Royal%20Navy%20Appointments%201865-.pdf|title=Senior Royal Navy appointments|access-date=30 January 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5309165.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210023115/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article5309165.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 December 2008|title= Royal Navy admiral Phillip Jones heads EU Somali pirate task force|work= The Times|date= 9 December 2008|access-date=30 January 2016}} He was made Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff in June 2009.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8341378.stm |title=Catching modern-day pirates|publisher=BBC News|date= 23 December 2009|access-date=30 January 2016}}

File:New Fleet Commander with the First Sea Lord.jpg

Jones was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2012 New Year Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=60009 |date=31 December 2011 |page=2 |supp=y}}{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/honours-list/8985135/New-Year-Honours-2012-full-list-of-recipients.html|title=New Year Honours 2012: full list of recipients|date=31 December 2011|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=29 January 2016}} He was promoted to vice admiral{{London Gazette |issue=60006 |date=28 December 2011 |page=24681 |supp=y}} and appointed Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet and Chief of Staff Navy Command Headquarters on 13 December 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceviewpoints.co.uk/defence-news/up-and-out-promotions-retirements-new-posts-for-senior-uk-military-personnel-september-2011 |title=Up and out : Promotions, retirements, new posts for senior UK military personnel September 2011|publisher= Defense Viewpoints|date= 19 September 2011|access-date=30 January 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceviewpoints.co.uk/defence-news|title= Ups and outs: October 2012|publisher= Defence Viewpoints|date=October 2012|access-date=30 January 2016}} It was reported on 29 January 2016 that Jones would be promoted admiral and assume the position of First Sea Lord in April 2016.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/marine-general-chosen-as-top-brass-no-2-jfcwh0f9rmc|title=Marine general chosen as top brass No 2|work=The Times|access-date=29 January 2016|last1=Haynes |first1=Deborah }}{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-secretary-of-state-announces-new-senior-appointments-in-the-armed-services|title=The Secretary of State announces new Senior Appointments in the Armed Services|publisher=Ministry of Defence|access-date=29 January 2016}} Jones handed over his duties of Fleet Commander to Vice Admiral Ben Key on 10 February,{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/february/10/160210-new-fleet-commander|title=Royal Navy appoints new Fleet Commander|access-date=11 February 2016}} and took over as First Sea Lord on 8 April.{{cite web|url=http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2016/april/08/160408-new-first-sea-lord|title=Admiral Sir Philip Jones takes over as First Sea Lord|access-date=8 April 2016}}

Jones was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 2014 Birthday Honours.{{London Gazette |issue=60895 |date=14 June 2014 |page=b3 |supp=y}} He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Hampshire in February 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.hants.gov.uk/aboutthecouncil/lieutenancy/deputies|title=Deputy Lieutenants|publisher=Hampshire Council|access-date=13 March 2019}} awarded the United States Legion of Merit in the degree of Commander in May,{{cite web|title=Trans-Atlantic Bonds Tighten as Naval Leaders Meet in Washington|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/may/01/190501-rn-usn-meet-in-washington|website=royalnavy.mod.uk|access-date=1 May 2019|date=19 June 2019}} and was succeeded by Admiral Tony Radakin as First Sea Lord on 19 June.{{cite web |title=Royal Navy appoints new First Sea Lord |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2019/june/19/190619-royal-navy-appoints-new-first-sea-lord |website=royalnavy.mod.uk |access-date=19 June 2019 |language=en |date=19 June 2019}}

Jones was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 2020 New Year Honours,{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N2|date=28 December 2019}} and retired from the navy on 3 January 2020.{{London Gazette |issue=62915 |date=11 February 2020 |page= 2442 |supp=y}}

In 1987 Jones married Elizabeth Collins; they have one son and two daughters. His interests include sports, reading and hill walking.

Jones has received Honorary Doctorates from Heriot-Watt University in 1993 {{Cite web|url=http://www1.hw.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-graduates.htm|title=Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh: Honorary Graduates|publisher=Heriot-Watt University|access-date=2016-04-05|archive-date=18 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418163907/http://www1.hw.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-graduates.htm|url-status=dead}} and from the University of Liverpool in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://news.liverpool.ac.uk/2017/07/04/new-chancellor-to-be-installed-at-july-graduation/|title=New Chancellor to be installed at July graduation|date=4 July 2017|publisher=University of Liverpool|access-date=14 August 2018}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=Tony Johnstone-Burt}}

{{s-ttl|title=Flag Officer Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland|years=February – September 2008}}

{{s-aft|after=Martin Alabaster}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=George Zambellas}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander United Kingdom Maritime Forces|years=2008–2009}}

{{s-aft|after=Peter Hudson}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Robert Cooling}}

{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff|years=2009–2011}}

{{s-aft|after=Matt Parr}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=George Zambellas}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander-in-Chief Fleet|years=2011–2012}}

{{s-non|reason=Re-designated as Deputy Fleet Commander}}

|-

{{s-new}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Fleet Commander|years=2012}}

{{s-vac}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Sir George Zambellas|rows=2}}

{{s-ttl|title=Fleet Commander and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff|years=2012–2016}}

{{s-aft|after=Ben Key}}

|-

{{s-ttl|title=First Sea Lord|years=2016–2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Tony Radakin}}

{{s-end}}

{{First Sea Lord}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, Philip}}

Category:1960 births

Category:Alumni of Mansfield College, Oxford

Category:Commanders of the Legion of Merit

Category:Deputy lieutenants of Hampshire

Category:First Sea Lords and Chiefs of the Naval Staff

Category:Graduates of Britannia Royal Naval College

Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Birkenhead School

Category:Royal Navy admirals

Category:Royal Navy personnel of the Falklands War

Category:Military personnel from Merseyside

Category:21st-century Royal Navy personnel