A key official of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was sworn into office on Wednesday.  Maurice Jones assumed the second highest job in the agency, Deputy Secretary, after his nomination was confirmed by the Senate on Marcy 29.  In his new position Jones will manage the day-to-day operations of the Department which has 8,900 employees and a budget of $47 billion.

Jones, a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, Hampden-Sydney College, and attended Oxford University on a Rhodes Scholarship.  He served as commissioner of the Virginia Department of Social Services and deputy chief of staff to Senator Mark Warner during his term as Virginia Governor.  He comes to HUD from Pilot Media, the largest print and digital organization in Hampton Roads and publisher of the five regional newspapers including the Virginian-Pilot which Jones served as President and Publisher.   He was also a partner at Partner in Venture Philanthropy Partners, a firm that invests millions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area to assist low-income children.

Jones said of his new position, "President Obama and Secretary Donovan have blessed me with the opportunity to join HUD during this critical period when we continue to support a fragile recovery from an historic housing crisis," said Jones. "I'm ready to help continue transforming an organization charged with moving beyond the yesterday's experiences to tackle today's challenges and those we'll face tomorrow."