He will replace current ambassador Dan Kurtzer, who will complete his four-tear term.

Before joining Rice at the State Department, Jones was second-in-command at the Coalition Provisional Authority, the U.S. civilian entity that ran Iraq after the American-led invasion in 2003.

In addition, Jones served as ambassador to Kuwait between 2001 and 2004, ambassador to Kazakhstan between 1998 and 2001 and ambassador to Lebanon from 1996 until 1998.

He also acted as Consul to the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia from 1989 to 1992.

Jones has a doctorate in business administration and statistics.

Halliburton incident

The U.S. media published claims in 2003 linking his name to an investigation surrounding the contract of the Halliburton Corporation in Iraq.

The Boston Globe reported in February that according to State Department documents, Jones pressured the corporation's daughter-company in December 2003 to purchase petroleum from a subcontractor belonging to the Kuwaiti government.

According to the Globe, a Pentagon inspection at the time found that the Kuwaiti company had charged the U.S. administration an exaggerated amount of at least USD 61 million.

Jone's nomination must now be approved by the Senate; however it is possible the Halliburton affair may be raised during deliberations regarding his appointment as ambassador.

The State Department has clarified in his defense that at the time of the incident Jones was eager to close the deal in a bid to supply petroleum that was badly needed in Iraq.

- Associated Press contributed to the report