A noted futurist and a technological historian, he has written three popular books entitled "My Grandfathers' Clock," "My Stepdaughter's Watch," and “The Parallel Bang,” with many thousands of copies sold of each. His lectures have captivated tens of thousands of all ages in 32 countries on six continents, and he has appeared on numerous radio and television broadcasts. In his daily work, he is on the management team overseeing the construction and operation of the most complicated technical project in history: the International Space Station.

A graduate of Caltech (B.S. '76) and the University of Rochester (Ph.D. '84) his extensive career includes roles in the development of many cutting edge technologies, including controlled thermonuclear fusion, the development of the electronic office, factory automation, and the globalization of business. He pioneered the deployment of several artificial intelligence systems, learning his craft at the famed Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.

He was the United States' lead systems integrator of the Zarya—the jointly built spacecraft that forms the central bridge and adapter between all U.S. and Russian technologies on the Space Station. This landmark in technological history was built in Moscow by American and Russian engineers and launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in November 1998.

Jack is a fellow of the Explorer's Club, a member of the AIAA, the National Speakers Association, the International Federation of Professional Speakers, and Engineers Without Borders, and was a founding member of the board of directors of the Science National Honor Society ( www.ScienceNHS.org). Among his numerous awards, he is a recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Achievement Medal, the Director’s Special Commendation, and the coveted Silver Snoopy award—the only award to fly in space. He routinely advises numerous academic programs and institutions, and he is a champion of education throughout the world.