James A. Vedda

James A. Vedda is a retired technology policy analyst who spent most of his career with government contractors in the Washington, D.C. area. He conducted research on civil, commercial, and national security space issues. Previously, Jim was an associate professor in the Department of Space Studies at the University of North Dakota, where he taught courses on civil, commercial, and military space policy to undergraduate and graduate students. He received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Florida, a master's degree in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from George Washington University, and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from John Carroll University.

Jim has written two books on the U.S. space program: Choice, Not Fate: Shaping a Sustainable Future in the Space Age (2009), and Becoming Spacefarers: Rescuing America's Space Program (2012). He has published dozens of articles, conference papers, book chapters, policy papers, and reviews on space exploration and development. In retirement, he is shifting his attention to music, especially jazz. Jim plays saxophones, flutes, and clarinet, and writes arrangements for jazz ensemble. His latest book is You've Got To Hear This: Untold Stories of Jazz Musicians (2022).