Dr. Thomas D. Jones
USAF, Ret.
NASA, Ret.

Thomas D. Jones, Ph.D. is a scientist, author, pilot, and former NASA astronaut. He holds a doctorate in planetary sciences, and in more than eleven years with NASA, flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit. On his last flight in 2001, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. He’s been privileged to spend fifty-three days working and living in space.

Tom was a 1977 Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Academy. He later piloted B-52D strategic bombers, studied asteroids for NASA, engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA, and as a NASA contractor, developed advanced mission concepts to explore the solar system.

Tom writes frequently on space exploration and aviation history in magazines such as Air and_Space_Smithsonian, Aerospace_America, and Popular_Mechanics. He is the co-author of two books for young adults: Mission: Earth (Scholastic, 1996) and The Scholastic Encyclopedia of the United States at War (Scholastic, 1998). He co-wrote with Michael Benson the popular Complete Idiot’s Guide to NASA, (Alpha, 2002). Tom’s newest title is Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir, published in February 2006 by Smithsonian Books--Collins.

Dr. Jones’ awards include the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, four NASA Space Flight Medals, the NASA Exceptional Service Award, the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal, Phi Beta Kappa, and the Air Force Commendation Medal.

As a consultant, speaker, and writer, he is active in the current debate over the future direction of America’s space exploration program. Dr. Jones lives with his family in the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

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