James F. Jeletic

Jim Jeletic is the deputy project manager for the Hubble Space Telescope mission at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. Jeletic’s career at NASA began in 1984 developing orbit, attitude and mission planning ground systems in the flight dynamics organization. His work included specializing in the development of computer applications for visualizing spacecraft and space environment data. He served 13 years in that organization, becoming head of the software engineering branch and a co-director of NASA’s Software Engineering Laboratory.

Jeletic’s involvement with Hubble began in 1998 when he accepted the position of science operations manager. In that position, he coordinated the science side of mission operations, oversaw the administration and budget of the research grant program, and was heavily involved in public outreach. In addition to his Hubble responsibilities, Jeletic supported or led various activities related to the establishment of the science and operations center for the Hubble follow-on mission, the James Webb Space Telescope, as well as studies and proposals for advanced X-ray telescope missions.

Jeletic was born and raised in Avalon, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. He earned a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree in computer science and engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and a master’s degree in engineering management from the George Washington University.

Throughout his career Jeletic has received seven NASA innovation awards for his early work in visualization, 14 NASA agency and center group achievement awards, and a NASA Exceptional Service award for his work on Hubble science operations and outreach. He has appeared in news stories by The Washington Post, CBS News, USA Today, FOX, Astronomy Now, Aerospace America and National Public Radio. He is profiled in a National Geographic Society short video associated with Hubble’s 25th anniversary.

Jeletic lives in Annapolis, Maryland, with his wife and three children. He enjoys numerous activities including amateur astronomy, sports photography and genealogy, and he supports the many activities of his kids. As a former NCAA Division I athlete, he is certified by the United States Track and Field association as an official and officiates yearly at the Penn Relays, the largest track meet outside of the Olympics.