Charles Edward "Chuck" Jones (November 8, 1952 – September 11, 2001) was a United States Air Force officer, an aeronautical engineer, computer programmer, and an astronaut in the USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer Program. He was killed during the September 11 attacks, aboard American Airlines Flight 11.

Charles E. Jones
Born
Charles Edward Jones

(1952-11-08)November 8, 1952
DiedSeptember 11, 2001(2001-09-11) (aged 48)
Alma materUnited States Air Force Academy, B.S. 1974
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, M.S. 1980
Space career
USAF astronaut
Previous occupation
Computer programmer
RankColonel, USAF
Selection1982 USAF Group
MissionsCanceled Space Shuttle missions (STS-71-B)

Life

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Charles Edward Jones was born November 8, 1952, in Clinton, Indiana. He graduated from Wichita East High School in 1970, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Astronautical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1974, and received a Master of Science degree in Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1980. He entered the USAF Manned Spaceflight Engineer program in 1982,[1] and was scheduled to fly on mission STS-71-B in December 1986, but the mission was canceled after the Challenger Disaster in January 1986. He left the Manned Spaceflight Engineer program in 1987.[2]

He later worked for Defense Intelligence Agency, Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., and was Systems Program Director for Intelligence and Information Systems, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts.[1] Jones later was the manager of space programs for BAE Systems.[3]

Jones was killed at the age of 48 in the attacks of September 11, 2001, aboard American Airlines Flight 11. Jones was flying that day on a routine business trip for BAE Systems, and had been living as a retired U.S. Air Force colonel in Bedford, Massachusetts, at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife Jeanette.[1][3]

At the National 9/11 Memorial, Jones is memorialized at the North Pool, on Panel N-74.[4]

 
Jones' name is located on Panel N-74 of the National September 11 Memorial's North Pool, along with those of other passengers of Flight 11.

Military decorations

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His awards include:[5]

 
 
   
     
 
   
Parachutist Badge
Master Air and Space Missile Badge
Defense Superior Service Medal Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal
with three bronze oak leaf clusters
Air Force Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal Air Force Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Organizational Excellence Award
with three bronze oak leaf clusters
National Defense Service Medal
with bronze service star
Air Force Longevity Service Award
with silver leaf cluster
Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon Air Force Training Ribbon

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Astronaut Biography: Charles Jones". Space Facts. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  2. ^ "MSE astronaut among 9/11 hijacked victims". collectspace.com. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Honoring the 9/11 victims with ties to New Hampshire". WMUR-TV. September 11, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Charles Edward Jones Archived 2013-07-27 at the Wayback Machine Memorial Guide: National 9/11 Memorial Retrieved December 11, 2011
  5. ^ "Charles Edward Jones". 9/11 Living Memorial. Retrieved January 28, 2024.