Jones to Take Command of 40th Infantry

Former Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base Commander Brig. Gen. Keith D. Jones has been named Commander of the 40th Infantry Division.

The position comes with a promotion in rank to major general, and it could mean that Jones will return to Los Alamitos where he was a popular figure in the community during his brief tenure as the base commander. The 40th Infantry Division is headquartered in Los Alamitos, however, the Army has not announced whether Jones will be stationed in Los Alamitos.

In an Army memo announcing the move, Commanding Brigadier General Donald J. Currier said, “Brigadier General Jones is enthusiastic about this new challenge and wholeheartedly accepts the increased responsibility as the Commander, 40th Infantry Division. His experience and skills, developed as the Garrison Commander as Joint Forces Training Base (J FTB) Los Alamitos, Senior Post Commander of Camp Roberts and the Assistant Division Commander, 40th Infantry Division, make him the ideal Officer for this assignment. He will continue to serve as the full time Senior Post Commander for Camp Roberts.”

Jones served in Los Alamitos for less than two years until June of 2011. He came to the base in 2009 after serving as the U.S. commander in the NATO peacekeeping mission in the Balkans. He reached out to city leaders in Los Alamitos and Seal Beach to address community concerns about the relocation of a Black Hawk helicopter unit to the base and was well liked for his community outreach efforts.

The 40th Infantry Division is a multiple brigade division that has served in every major war since World War I.

In taking the helm, Jones will replace Major General Scott Johnson. Today, Currier thanked Johnson for his service.

“Under his leadership, the 40th Infantry Division and Joint Forces Training Base

(JFTB) have successfully assisted in developing the California Army National Guard into the War fighting multiplier and Army Standard Installation that it is today.”

A changing of the guard ceremony will be held in September and will be open to the public.