Ben Jones, PhD

He is a physical oceanographer with a specialty in ocean acoustics. At ARL Ben has led a variety of applied projects supporting Department of Defense initiatives ranging from sea-turtle habitat studies in Pearl Harbor to the first drone delivery to a US nuclear submarine.

Prior to ARL, Ben served as a Naval Officer for 21 years including seven years as a helicopter pilot and mission commander during which he deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom following the tragic events of Sept 11th, 2001. He transitioned into the Naval Oceanography community in 2006 and completed tours as the Oceanographer aboard the USS Bonhomme Richard, the US Submarine Force Oceanographer, and the Fifth Fleet Oceanographer where he oversaw all survey operations and environmental support for US Naval Forces in the US Central Command area of operations. His final active-duty assignment was as the Deputy Technical Director to the Oceanographer of the Navy where he managed the Naval Oceanography research, development, testing and evaluation portfolio for future Naval Oceanography capabilities.

Ben is a 1997 graduate with distinction from the U.S. Naval Academy and holds a SM in Oceanographic Engineering from the MIT-Woods Hole Joint Program in Oceanography and PhD in Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School.