From military service to building cyclotrons – Chris Jones, lecturer in advanced technologies at Cleveland State

Chris Jones served in the military for 13 years as an aviation electronics technician, followed by eight years as a cyclotron test engineer. He is currently training the next generation of engineers at Cleveland State Community College.

The Benton, Tennessee, native wanted to be a football coach. At his father’s urging, he enrolled at Hiwassee College and majored in physical education. “Like a lot of kids who leave school, I was burned out,” he said. He asked his college counselor, “What’s the quickest way to get out of here?” Jones changed his major to recreation and skipped teaching courses. He earned an associate degree from Hiwassee College and a bachelor of arts from Maryville College.

What he didn’t realize at the time was that this decision would change his career choice; teaching and training were no longer an option.

After graduating and working for six months, he enlisted in the Navy. “I took the ASVAB test and they seemed to think I was smart enough to work on airplanes,” Mr. Jones said. He trained and became an aviation electronics technician. When he left the Navy after four years of active duty, he missed the military routine. He joined the TN Air National Guard in Knoxville as a traditional guardsman, working one weekend a month, then took a full-time job as a guardsman and served another nine years.

“Without the military, I would have absolutely nothing,” Mr. Jones said. “It was probably the smartest decision I ever made. I don’t know where I would be now or what I would be doing. It gave me that foundation. From that one decision on, things just went in a positive direction.”

With his experience in military electronics, he was recruited by a company that later became Siemens Molecular Imaging. He worked on a team that installed particle accelerators (cyclotrons) for medical purposes. As a cyclotron test engineer, he traveled all over the world.

“We built the cyclotrons in the factory and tested them,” said Mr Jones. “Then we disassembled them, shipped them to the customer and traveled to the customer site to install them. The trips took between six and 45 days. My mother even thought I was a spy because we went to a lot of funky places in Russia and Turkey – not tourist places.”

After eight years, he was hired by a similar start-up company to work with radioactive isotopes. Mr Jones said: “We did everything in those jobs – electrical, mechanical, fluid power, everything. It was a very stressful job.”

In 2015, the startup company was in trouble and Jones was laid off. A part-time mechatronics teacher position opened up at Polk County High School. After a year, funding for that position ran out and Jones was hired by Cleveland State to teach mechatronics courses to high school students at the Cleveland State Monroe County Center in Vonore, Tennessee.

In 2020, Mr. Jones moved to Cleveland State University’s main campus in Cleveland. In addition to teaching mechatronics in the Advanced Technologies Department, he also teaches for Cleveland State University’s Human Resources Development Department. He provides specialized electrical and mechanical training to local industry partners such as Adient, Del Conca, and Whirlpool.

Mr. Jones is a certified Siemens Level 1 and Level 2 instructor. He is also a National Coalition for Certification Centers (NC3) certified instructor in hydraulics, pneumatics, and additive manufacturing. As an NC3 instructor, he takes the same training and exams as his students. There is a classroom portion and a certain number of lab hours that must be completed before students can take the exam. If they pass the exam, they receive an industry-recognized certification.

“When I teach workforce development courses, many of the employees have experience but don’t have the certified training that the industry demands. These students are motivated. It’s nice to know that you’re helping them and training the next generation of technicians.”

“The Department of Human Resources Development at Cleveland State is fortunate to have Chris Jones share his knowledge and wisdom with students who participate in customized training programs and courses,” said Heather Brown, Director of Human Resources Development. “Students appreciate his talents as well as his calm demeanor and willingness to go the extra mile to ensure each lesson is understood. Chris’s expertise covers a wide range. What he doesn’t know, he is eager to learn in order to be an even greater help to his students. I appreciate Chris’ commitment to Cleveland State and to all of his students.”

Mr. Jones has two sons. TC is an Army medic and Will just graduated from high school. When he’s not teaching, Mr. Jones experiments with 3D printing and metal casting. “My mind needs to be constantly moving. 3D printing gives me that creative outlet.”

For more information about specialized training opportunities in Workforce Development, contact Heather Brown, Director of Workforce Development, [email protected] or 423 614-8793.