Ira Jones has been the Director of Workforce Development at Drake State Community and Technical College in Huntsville, Alabama, since June 2024.

Ira Jones is a retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Bomb Technician. Ira served in the FBI for over 21 Years, investigating many federal violations. Beyond his investigative experience, he spent most of his career instructing, developing instructors, and developing curricula for the FBI nationally and internationally. His final posting was at the FBI Hazardous Devices School (HDS) on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, where he was the Curriculum, International Relations Liaison, Media, and Intelligence Program Manager until his retirement. Ira also served as a local police officer in Illinois before becoming an agent.

Ira has a lengthy military career, beginning with his active-duty service in the United States Marine Corps and his later transition to serving as a member of the Louisiana National Guard, where he continues to serve as an Army Colonel. Ira’s current position within the Louisiana National Guard is that of the J2 – the state's Director of Intelligence and Security. He is a career intelligence officer who saw service in Afghanistan.

Ira has a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Public Administration with a concentration in Terrorism, Mediation, and Peace from Walden University. A Master of Arts in Criminology with a graduate certificate in Law Enforcement Leadership in Weapons of Mass Destruction from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Master of Strategic Studies - National Security Policy Program from the U.S. Army War College.

Ira has been married to the former, Angela Mandrell, for the past 32 years, and they have two adult daughters, Brittney and Haley, and three grandchildren.