Maurice Jones: Movies & Filmography

Maurice Antonia Jones (born September 14, 1964) is an American government official, lawyer, and business executive who has held several prominent positions in both the public and nonprofit sectors. Jones is the former CEO of OneTen, a coalition of major companies dedicated to creating one million jobs for African Americans by the end of the 2020s, demonstrating his long-standing commitment to economic equity and opportunity. Prior to his role at OneTen, he served as the president and CEO of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), a national community development financial institution that focuses on supporting low-income communities across the United States. Before his nonprofit leadership roles, Jones made history as the eighth United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Barack Obama, serving in that capacity from April 18, 2012, to January 2014. Following his federal service, he was appointed as the 16th Virginia Secretary of Commerce by Governor Terry McAuliffe, serving from January 27, 2014, until September 6, 2016, where he played a key role in promoting economic development throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Jones was born in rural Mecklenburg County, Virginia, and grew up on his grandparents' tobacco farm near the small town of Kenbridge, an upbringing that informed his lifelong dedication to rural and underserved communities. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Hampden–Sydney College, graduating with Omicron Delta Kappa honors, before continuing his education at the prestigious St. John's College, Oxford, where he studied as a Rhodes Scholar and earned an MPhil. Jones later received his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law, equipping him with a strong legal foundation for his subsequent public service career. In November 2020, Jones was considered as a candidate for United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development in the Biden administration, though he was ultimately not selected for the position. Throughout his career, he has been affiliated with the Democratic Party and has been recognized as a thoughtful leader on issues of housing, commerce, and economic opportunity.