Colonel Julie Jones moved to Florida with her family in 1968.  Growing up in Broward County, she saw the State of Florida change dramatically to what it is today.  After graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a master’s degree in ecology, she joined the Florida Game and Freshwater Fish Commission as a biologist working on the Kissimmee River Project.  The Division of Law Enforcement recruited her in 1983, and she worked her way through four of the five geographical regions and achieved the rank of Captain before being promoted to Regional Director in Lake City in 1997.  As Regional Director, she worked directly for the Executive Director’s office and was charged with the oversight of all of the various divisions within the region, as well as serving as a legislative liaison and agency advocate.  During her tenure as Regional Director, she maintained her law enforcement standards and attended all of the training offered to the officers of the Division of Law Enforcement.  On July 1, 1999, the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission merged with the Florida Marine Fisheries Commission to become the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  In August 2002, Colonel Jones became the Director of the Division of Law Enforcement within the Commission.  As Director, she is responsible for a division that includes 900 employees, 722 of whom are sworn law enforcement officers, and has a budget of approximately $73 million, making it the largest resource enforcement agency in the nation.  On September 6, 2003, Colonel Jones was named Fish and Wildlife Officer of the Year by the Florida Wildlife Federation. She is currently serving as President of the National Association of Law Enforcement Chiefs, and as Secretary for the Southeastern Association of Law Enforcement Chiefs.