Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion
Col Kemper A. Jones,

Colonel Jones was commissioned upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1997.  He attended The Basic School and Infantry Officer’s course from August 1997 to May 1998.

From June 1998 to May 2002, Colonel Jones served with 1st Battalion, 1st Marines as the Weapons Platoon Commander for Charlie Company, the Executive Officer for Weapons Company, and the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer.  During his tour he deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in 1999 and again with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) in 2001, deploying into Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Colonel Jones transferred to The Basic School in June 2002, where he served as a Warfighting Instructor and as a Staff Platoon Commander.  From December 2004 to May 2005, he attended the Army Infantry Captains Career Course in Fort Benning, Georgia, and graduated on the Commandant’s List.

From June 2005 through July 2008, Colonel Jones served with 2d Battalion, 1st Marines where he served as the Assistant Operations Officer until he took command of Echo Company in December 2005 on a 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment in Iraq.  He then led Echo Company on a 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit deployment.  He became the Weapons Company Commander in January 2008. 

In 2009 Colonel Jones was a distinguished graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College earning a Master’s Degree in Military Studies.  Upon graduation, he joined the Commandant’s Staff Group at Headquarters Marine Corps.

In May 2011, Colonel Jones reported to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines to serve as the Battalion Executive Officer deploying to Afghanistan.  He reported to 6th Marine Regiment in May 2013 where he served as Regimental Operations Officer and Regimental Executive Officer.

In September 2015, Colonel Jones was assigned to 3d Battalion, 8th Marines as the Battalion Commanding Officer.  He supported Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Africa and was the Commanding Officer of the Black Sea Rotational Force 15.2. He then led the battalion to Okinawa, Japan and throughout the Pacific as the Forward Deployed Battalion - East.   

In February 2018 Colonel Jones attended the Senior Course at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy and graduated with honors.  From there he reported to US Africa Command in Stuttgart, Germany.  He served as a planner in the J57 and as the Division Chief of the J5 Directorate Support Division. 

Colonel Jones’ personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal (with gold star in lieu of second award), Naval Commendation Medal (with two gold stars in lieu of third award), Navy Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.