23rd Marine Regiment Commanding Officer Awarded 2022 BEYA Stars and Stripes Award

Photo By Sgt. Ellen Schaaf | Gen. Eric Smith, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, presents an award to Col. Quintin Jones, the Marine of the Year, at the Stars and Stripes award ceremony at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C., February 18, 2022. Stars and Stripes held their 17th annual award ceremony this year honoring black American service members.  

WASHINGTON D.C., DC, UNITED STATES

02.24.2022

Story by Cpl. James Stanfield  

Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES)

U.S. Marine Corps Col. Quintin Jones, commanding officer of 23rd Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve, was recognized as the Marine Corps recipient of the Stars and Stripes Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA), Feb. 18, at the BEYA Stars and Stripes dinner in Washington, D.C.

The BEYA program recognizes those who support mentorship, diversity, and value-based service to the nation as well as their individual efforts to advocate for advances in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

Jones was recognized for those achievements and for proving himself to be of exemplary character and outstanding ability, the final characteristic of an awardee.

Throughout his career, Jones has worked to positively influence others. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy, is an instructor for the Marine Corps University Expeditionary Warfare School distance online program, and serves as the executive vice president of the National Naval Officers Association (NNOA).

Jones's motivation for attending the United States Naval Academy was to develop as a mentor for minority and majority folks who have not necessarily had the opportunity to be led by a person of color.

"I wanted to be a role model and a mentor; to show positive leadership from an African American perspective," said Jones.

More than two decades later, Jones continues to serve as a mentor through the NNOA, working to show high school students that "the military is a viable option within the STEM field."

Jones recognized all of the Marines, Soldiers, and Sailors who he has served with for helping develop him into the leader that he is today.

"[I credit those] who saw something in me, but also pointed out the weaknesses and strengths that I have and allowed me to continue to improve," said Jones.

Gen. Eric M. Smith, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, was present to congratulate Jones on his award and give context to his achievements.

"We have nine infantry regiments in the entire Marine Corps; he commands one," said Smith during the ceremony. "He's a gunfighter, he's a warrior, and his valor in combat is a matter of naval record. This is the future of the Marine Corps."

Smith ended his address with a more personal statement of confidence. "Quintin, I have a son who is a Marine," he said. "When the nation calls their 911 force the next time, I would be proud and reassured if my son were under your command.”

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Who We Are: The United States Marine Corps Reserve is responsible for providing trained units and qualified individuals for mobilization to active duty in time of war, national emergency, and crisis or contingency operations. On a day-to-day basis, Marine Forces Reserve (MARFORRES) consists of a talented and dedicated pool of nearly 100,000 Marines able to augment the Active Component in a myriad of ways, to include operational deployments, support to training, participation in bi/multi-lateral exercises with partner nations and allies, and service-level experimentation in support of Force Design 2030 and refinement of new concepts, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

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• Date Taken: 02.24.2022
• Date Posted: 02.25.2022 13:17
• Story ID: 415251
• Location: WASHINGTON D.C., DC, US
• Hometown: MEMPHIS, TN, US