Meet: John (Jack) Bacon

Who I Am and What I Do
Jack Bacon has often been called "A New Carl Sagan." He is an internationally-known motivational speaker, a distinguished lecturer (emeritus) of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and one of the most requested speakers in the country for topics concerning technology and the factors that shape human society. A noted futurist and a technological historian, he has written three popular books on the pace of technology and society. His lectures have captivated tens of thousands of all ages in thirty countries on six continents, and he has appeared on numerous radio and television broadcasts and documentaries. 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.

Education and Career Journey
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 US 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 and of the National Speakers Association, 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.

Personal
When he's not on the road, Jack supports his stepdaughter Crystal in her graduate studies and international modeling career along with his wife Janeane from their home in Houston, Texas, which they share with two black cats.

Last updated: January 2007