Professor Jones is a University Professor Ermerita in the University of Virginia and a Professor of Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science, previously having served as chair of the Department of Computer Science.
The Honorable Anita K. Jones was sworn in as the Director of Defense Research and Engineering for the U.S. Department of Defense in June 1993. In that position she was responsible for the management of the DoD science and technology program. This included responsibility for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, oversight of the DoD laboratories, as well as being the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense for defense-related scientific and technical matters.
Professor Jones is past vice-chair of the National Science Board, which advises the President on science, engineering, and education as well as oversees the National Science Foundation. She is a senior fellow of the Defense Science Board and a past member of the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory Corporation and of the MIT Corporation Executive Committee. She has co-chaired the Commonwealth of Virginia Research and Technology Advisory Commission and has served on other government advisory boards and scientific panels for NASA, the National Academies, the Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Philosophical Society and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. She has received the Computing Research Association's Service Award, the Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, the Department of Defense Award for Distinguished Public Service, and the IEEE Founders Award. The U.S. Navy named a seamount in the North Pacific Ocean for her.
She was a member of the Board of Directors of both Science Applications International Corporation and Leidos. She is a trustee of In-Q-Tel and of Science Foundation Arizona. Duke University, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Southern California have awarded her Honorary Doctorate degrees. She has published more than 50 technical articles and two books in computer software and systems, cyber-security, and science and technology policy. In fall 2010, the National Academy of Engineering gave her the Arthur M. Bueche Award for contributions to science and technology policy advancement. In 2013 the American Association for the Advancement of Science bestowed their highest award, the Philip Hague Abelson Award for "her lifetime of exemplary public service to government, professional institutions, academia and industry".
Dr. Jones holds an A.B. from Rice University in mathematics, a Master of the Arts from the University of Texas, Austin, in literature, and a Ph.D. in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University.
University Professor Emerita, University of Virginia