Leslie W Jones
Ms. Leslie Jones is the Chief of Staff for the United States Geological Survey (USGS), where she manages implementation of the Director’s priorities, facilitates bureau planning and decision making by the Executive Leadership Team, and oversees the liaison function between the USGS and DOI Water and Science hallway.
Ms. Jones previously served as the Deputy Associate Director for the Office of Communications and Publishing for 13 years, overseeing the web team, internal communications, visual communications, conferences, strategic planning, budget, and staffing. She simultaneously served as Chief of the Science Publishing Network, where she led the technology transformation to a state-of-the-art publishing system, reworked the funding model, and developed bureau-wide standards enabling the sharing of work across units, achieving significant (33%) cost savings. Previous to this role, Ms. Jones created the first internal communications program in DOI, institutionalizing employee communications at the USGS.
Previous positions include the communications lead for Geologic Division programs, where she developed the first geologic programs outreach strategy; the outreach lead for the Energy and the Coastal and Marine Geology Programs, launching their web presence and congressional outreach efforts; and a Publishing Specialist in the Office of Scientific Publications, helping create more layperson-friendly information products highlighting the value and relevance of USGS science. She began her career in the Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy as a Physical Science Technician, conducting paleoclimate research using micro- and nannofossils.
Ms. Jones is a graduate of Virginia Tech where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Environmental Sciences.