[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 17, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4248]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING LIEUTENANT GENERAL NOEL T. ``TOM'' JONES

  Mr. CASSIDY. Mr. President, in a few short weeks an inspirational 
military leader will retire after serving his country proudly for over 
35 years. Today I recognize and commend Air Force Lt. Gen. Noel T. 
``Tom'' Jones for his exceptional leadership and service over those 35 
years, most recently as the vice commander of U.S. Air Forces in 
Europe, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
  Born to Margaret and Lem Jones, General Jones was no stranger to 
military service. His father was an F-4 fighter pilot in the U.S. Air 
Force and retired after 23 years as a lieutenant colonel. His older 
brother, Lem Jones, Jr., served in the U.S. Army and retired as a 
major. The second oldest son, Ron Jones, served as an enlisted member 
in the U.S. Air Force for 6 years. Finally, General Jones' younger 
brother, James ``Rev'' Jones, recently retired as a major general after 
a distinguished career as an Air Force fighter pilot as well. In fact, 
at one point in time, all four Jones boys were serving in the military 
at the same time. All told, General Jones moved around to nine 
different States or countries before even entering college.
  With a calling to serve and fly like his father, General Jones was 
commissioned in 1980 following graduation from the U.S. Air Force 
Academy with a bachelor of science degree in political science. He 
completed undergraduate pilot training in 1981 and began a long career 
flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon under the call sign ``Honez.'' During 
his career, he served as an instructor pilot and operations officer as 
well as holding numerous operational command positions.
  An outstanding leader throughout his distinguished career, General 
Jones' service has spanned the country with assignments in 12 States 
and across the world with tours at Torrejon Air Base, Spain, Kunsan Air 
Base, South Korea, Baghdad, Iraq, and Ramstein Air Base, Germany. He 
has commanded a fighter squadron, operations group, and a fighter wing. 
Additionally, General Jones commanded the 332nd Expeditionary Wing at 
Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, during Operation Iraqi Freedom and 
served for a year in Iraq as the director of strategic plans and 
assessment for U.S. Forces-Iraq.
  General Jones has also held staff assignments at North American 
Aerospace Defense Command, Air Combat Command, and the National 
Security Agency. Prior to his current assignment, he was the director, 
operational capability requirements, deputy chief of staff for 
operations, plans and requirements, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, 
Washington, DC. In his current capacity, General Jones serves as the 
vice commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe, the air component to U.S. 
European Command and U.S. Africa Command. The major command is 
responsible for providing full-spectrum warfighting capabilities to the 
combatant commanders throughout the entire area of responsibility, 
which encompasses 104 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle 
East, the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, and possesses more than a quarter 
of the world's population and more than a quarter of the world's gross 
domestic product.
  General Jones is a command pilot with more than 3,500 flying hours, 
including combat sorties over Iraq in operations Southern Watch, Desert 
Fox and Iraqi Freedom. His military decorations include the Air Force 
Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Superior Service Medal with oak 
leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, and Bronze 
Star Medal, among many others.
  Mr. President, Lt. Gen. Tom ``Honez'' Jones epitomizes the Air Force 
core values of integrity, service, and excellence, and has dedicated 
his life to serving our Nation. I am proud to say he plans to retire 
with the rest of the extended Jones Family in Coushatta, LA. Today I 
join my colleagues in honoring his admirable service to our Nation and 
all the airmen, sailors, soldiers, marines, and civilians, who have 
served alongside him. We offer our heartfelt appreciation to Tom, his 
wife Debbie, and their children, Tommy and Danielle, and a hearty 
congratulation on his retirement from the U.S. Air Force.

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