Lieutenant Col Carleton W. Jones is the Commander of the Boston Cadet Squadron, a local unit of the all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol – a federally chartered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation and the benevolent civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force which is headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.

Col Jones’ primary duty is to lead his squadron’s teenaged and adult volunteer members in the fulfillment of the Civil Air Patrol’s three congressionally chartered missions: Emergency Services, Cadet Programs and Aerospace Education, as well as in CAP’s increasing role in America’s homeland security.

Col Jones began his CAP career as a senior member in the National Capital Wing’s Andrews Composite Squadron at Andrews AFB, MD in 1985 – two years after being designated a Distinguished Graduate from the Air Force R.O.T.C. and having been selected to receive a Regular Commission as an officer in the United States Air Force. After joining CAP, he served in several leadership positions in the Andrews and Hanscom Composite Squadrons and in Group One Headquarters at Hanscom AFB, MA in the Massachusetts Wing. In 1993, Lt Col Jones completed his goal to charter the Boston Cadet Squadron, where he continues to serve as its commander. As additional duties, Col Jones has also served on several staff positions for the Massachusetts Wing Summer Encampment at the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Cape Cod, MA to include twice serving as its Commander. Col Jones has also twice served on staff at the Northeast Region Staff College held at McGuire AFB, NJ where he last served as the school’s Deputy Commander and Commandant of Students.

Col Jones has completed Level Four of the CAP Senior Training Program, having received the Charles Yeager, Grover Loening and Paul Garber awards, has received the Meritorious Service Award and is an honor graduate of the Northeast Region Staff College. As a rated Ground Team Leader, Mission Observer and Transport Mission Pilot, Col Jones has served on numerous practice and actual Search and Rescue and/or Disaster Relief Missions for the USAF Rescue Coordination Center and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.

Col Jones holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Howard University and a graduate certificate in specialized studies in administration and management from Harvard University. Col Jones also holds a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot license.

Col Jones began his professional career in 1987 as a financial analyst at Fidelity Investments. In 1992, he became a budget and policy analyst for the Mayor’s Office of Capital Planning for the City of Boston. In 1998, he left City Hall for the Boston Public Schools Department, where he served as the Director of the Capital & Strategic Planning Unit until 2009.  Then Col Jones was appointed to be the Chief Operating Officer for Providence Public Schools where he currently serves.

Col Jones is married to the former Ida Denard. He and his wife have three children – David, Justin and Taylore.