Colonel L. Orion Jones assumed his current duties as the MATSG-22 Commanding Officer on 17 July 2026. He enlisted in 1999 into the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an M-198 Artillery Mechanic and was commissioned in December 2003 after graduating from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. Upon completion of The Basic School in March 2004, Colonel Jones reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola followed by Corpus Christi for flight training. He was designated a Naval Aviator in August 2006 followed by designation as a CH-53D/E pilot in 2007.
Colonel Jones’s operational assignments include: HMH-463, HMH-465, VMM-163 (REIN), and HMH-366; during this time, he deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom twice, the Unit Deployment Program twice, the 11th MEU, and Cold Response. He subsequently commanded HMH-366 from 2020 until its deactivation in 2023.
Colonel Jones’s staff assignments include: instructor pilot and Aviation Development, Test, and Evaluation Department (ADT&E) at MAWTS-1; operational test pilot and Director of Science and Technology at VMX-1. He most recently served as the Deputy Chief, Force Application Division and the Land, Sea, Nuclear, and SOF Branch Head on the Joint Staff, J8.
Colonel Jones is a graduate of the Expeditionary Warfare School (non-resident), Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 1-11 (WTI), Aviation Safety Officer Course 2-08, Air Force Command and Staff College, and the National War College earning Masters Degrees in Military Operational Art and Science as well as National Security Strategy.
Colonel Jones has over 2,500 mishap-free flight hours. His personal decorations include: Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal – Individual Action with combat distinguishing device, Air Medal Strike/Flight numeral 12, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star, Selective Marine Corps Reserve Medal. He was also awarded the 2011 USMC Exceptional Pilot Award by the Order of the Daedalians, the 2012 Aviator of the Year by 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, and the 2016 Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Research Award.