Walter F. Jones, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Dr. Walter F. Jones joined the Office of Naval Research in September 2007, as Executive Director. Dr. Jones is the senior civilian manager at ONR, and provides executive, technical, and scientific direction in the performance of ONR’s mission of planning and managing science and technology research for the Department of the Navy. He works closely with ONR’s Directorate leads in the identification, prioritization, and support of specific areas of science and technology development.
Dr. Jones most recently was Director, Plans and Programs, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. He was responsible for developing and managing the processes that defined AFRL’s $3-billion annual investment in technologies for future Air Force systems. These systems include space, weapons, aeronautics, and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
Dr. Jones has held a wide variety of positions in government and academia. He has served as Director, Aerospace and Materials Sciences, Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Arlington, Va. In this capacity, he planned, coordinated, and executed a $55-million basic research program, including solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, materials science, and propulsion. He has also served as a senior program analyst with the Office of the Deputy Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management. He has held several positions with the Air Force, including Deputy for Research Sciences with the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition), and Deputy for Science and Technology with the Office of the National Security Space Architect. In addition, Dr. Jones has held faculty positions at the University of Florida, University of Tennessee, and Clemson University.
Dr. Jones received his Ph.D. and M.S. in engineering mechanics and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Clemson University. He also has an M.S. in national resource strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at Ft. Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C.