Rising Star: James Jones

James Jones has a rare combination of skills: He knows how to see a project through to completion, and he is not afraid to change course or take on new tasks at the last minute. Jones, who holds a Chief Information Officer Certification from GSA University and a master’s degree in technology management from George Mason University, has been an information technology capital planner for the Interior Department’s capital planning and investment control process for two years.He has been a bulldog when it comes to promoting the use of performance baselines, overseeing earned value management, reporting on high-risk projects and supporting portfolio management applications. In 2007, Jones spent nights and weekends reviewing departmental submissions to the Office of Management and Budget, said Larry Warren, chief of IT portfolio management at Interior. But Jones stays flexible. When Interior’s deputy CIO asked him to give a speech on short notice in April, Jones took the task in stride while juggling a training course that week, Warren said.