CDCA 2025 Eastern Defense

Eric Jones
Commanding Officer
Coast Guard Base Charleston


Captain (CAPT) Eric Jones reported for duty as Commanding Officer, Base Charleston in June 2023 where he serves as the mission support touch point for all Coast Guard Operations throughout northern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Base Charleston serves as the host command to numerous tenants and its sub-units and provides geographically distributed depot-level maintenance functions in Naval Engineering and Electronics Engineering; in addition to Logistics, Administrative, Financial, Procurement, and Healthcare services – Supporting People and Operations. Most recently, CAPT Jones served as Surface Forces Logistic Center’s, Long Range Enforcer Product Line Manager (LRE PLM) where he directed comprehensive, fleet-wide life cycle support for all Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HM&E), and Weapons Systems for a portfolio of National Security Cutters, POLAR STAR, HEALY, and ALEX HALEY engaged in high visibility operations around the world. He led a team of military, civilian, and contractors distributed throughout the continental US, AK, and HI. Prior to this assignment, CAPT Jones was in Senior Service School, serving as a Systems Design and Management Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA. Previously, CAPT Jones served as the Executive Officer at Base Portsmouth, VA, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS), Wash. DC, and Logistics Department Head at Sector Honolulu, in Oahu, HI. He also served as Port Engineer at Naval Engineering Support Unit Boston and Chief Engineer, USCGC MELLON, in Seattle, WA. His first assignment was aboard the USCGC COURAGEOUS in Panama City, FL, where he served as Damage Control Assistant. Following this tour, he reported to the Project Residence Office Marinette, WI, as the Mechanical Section Chief for the recently awarded Great Lakes Ice Breaker project; the Coast Guard’s first-ever Azipod powered plant. CAPT Jones earned a Bachelor of Science from South Carolina State University. He has two Master of Science degrees, one from the George Washington University, and the other from MIT in System Design and Management. Additionally, he holds a Graduate Certificate in Technical Leadership from MIT and is a certified Project Management Professional. CAPT Jones, a native of Norway, SC is a life member of the National Naval Officer’s Association and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is married to NeKeshia of Anderson, SC; they have one adult son, Lawrence.

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