LPL alumnus Dr. Thomas Jones (1988) visited LPL and the University of Arizona in November to both receive and to bestow special awards. On November 12, Tom was presented with a special Professional Achievement Award from Arizona Alumni in recognition of his career prominence. In conjunction with the award presentation, Tom gave a lecture in support of his latest book, Space Shuttle Stories: Firsthand Astronaut Accounts from all 135 Missions. A reception and book signing followed. The following day, Tom held a roundtable with LPL graduate students and presented a lecture titled, Sky Walking: An LPL Astronaut’s Journey. At a ceremony that evening, Tom presented a 2024 Astronaut Scholar Award to U of A student Bryce Wilson.

Before becoming an astronaut Tom was a bomber pilot in the Air Force. Tom is a scientist, speaker, author, pilot, and veteran NASA astronaut. In more than eleven years with NASA, he flew on four Space Shuttle missions. On his last flight, he led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory. At LPL, his dissertation (1988) involved both telescopic and laboratory studies of asteroids and meteorites.

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Above left: Tom Jones with his dissertation advisor, LPL Professor Emeritus John Lewis. Above right: Local alums including Ginny Gulick, Bob Marcialis, Shelly Pope, and Lisa McFarlane, in addition to LPL director Mark Marley, attended Tom’s award lecture and book signing reception.