Virginia Beach, Va. – Thomas D. Jones, PhD, a veteran astronaut, scientist, author, pilot, and Distinguished Eagle Scout, is the keynote speaker at the 24^th Annual Leadership Breakfast on Thursday, March 20, 2025. The event, which benefits youth members of Scouting America Tidewater Council, kicks off at 7:15 AM at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center.

In more than eleven years with NASA, Dr. Jones flew on four space shuttle missions to Earth orbit, spending fifty-three days working and living in space.

A Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Academy, Dr. Jones piloted B-52D strategic bombers, earned a doctorate in planetary sciences, studied asteroids and robotic exploration missions for NASA, and engineered intelligence-gathering systems for the CIA.

Looking back on his four NASA shuttle missions and Air Force career, Dr. Jones says he sees how Scouting helped prepare him for a career among the stars. His outdoor survival and map-reading skills served him well, building the confidence needed to perform well in a strange and stress-filled space environment. He views space flight like a high-tech camping expedition, with few comforts, unfamiliar surroundings, and the promise of a new, challenging adventure each day.

Tom’s most essential lessons from Scouting were an insistence on personal responsibility, working hard to be a good team member, and accepting ever-growing leadership roles. These interpersonal skills were excellent preparation for the teamwork and leadership challenges he would face in exploring space and helping to build the International Space Station.

Dr. Jones served on the NASA Advisory Council and the boards of the Association of Space Explorers and Astronauts Memorial Foundation. He consults on the future direction of human space exploration, uses of asteroid and space resources, and planetary defense from asteroids. The Main Belt asteroid 1082 TomJones is named in his honor.

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

The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inducted him as a member in 2018. He is the author of seven space, aviation, and history books, including Sky Walking: An Astronaut’s Memoir, which The Wall Street Journal named one of its “Five Best” books on space. He is often seen on-air delivering expert commentary on science and space flight.

Nearly 40% of U.S. astronauts got their start in Scouting. Forty have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, including Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell, and former NASA administrator Dick Truly. When an American explorer leaves their footprint in the ruddy sands of Mars, there is a good chance they will have first pulled on their boots as a Scout.

Tom believes that Scouting offers youth a tremendous opportunity to appreciate the wonders of nature, form the self-reliance necessary to succeed in life, and build the character needed to conquer any challenge on or off the planet.

To learn more or to reserve a seat to attend the Annual Leadership Breakfast, visit TidewaterBSA.com/breakfast25.