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Scott Jones, M.S., Commander, USCG

Instructor, Physics Department of Physics

In July 2021, after 1-day of retirement, Commander Scott Jones was recalled back to active duty to teach Physics and Chemistry at the Coast Guard Academy. A native of Bradford, Vermont, CDR Jones graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1998 with a BS in Marine and Environmental Science. His first assignment was as the Assistant Engineering Officer on USCGC ACUSHNET (WMEC-167), home ported in Ketchikan, AK. In 2000, he transferred to Navy Flight School in Pensacola Florida and earned his wings of gold in January 2002. CDR Jones served as an HH-65 pilot, instructor pilot, and flight examiner at Group-Air Station North Bend, OR (2002-2006) and Air Station Traverse City, MI (2006-2010). Upon graduating with a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics and Engineering from Yale University in 2012, he joined the faculty of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he taught Physics 1 & 2, Astronomy, math and CG History. In 2016, CDR Jones transferred to the Leadership Development Center where he spent five years as the Leadership and Organizational Department Head, responsible for the execution of nine leadership courses that were delivered to over four thousand Coast Guard Members annually.

Education

M.S., Engineering and Applied Science (Applied Physics), Yale University, 2012
B.S., Marine and Environmental Science, US Coast Guard Academy, 1998

Courses Taught

Physics I
Physics II
Chemistry I
Chemistry II
Astronomy
Private Pilot Ground School
USCG History

Contact Information

Phone: (860) 701-6901
email: Scott.B.Jones@uscga.edu

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.