Adopted in Chicago during the Apollo era by a trailblazing Black professional couple—comprised of an aerospace engineer father and a librarian mother—Jeffrey grew up in a loving household filled with books, science, and a shared belief in reason and compassion. From an early age he was captivated by the NASA moon missions, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, and sci-fi shows like Lost in Space.

But as the only Black child in his post-Civil Rights school in Arizona, he also faced significant challenges. He found the ongoing racial conflicts to be confusing and frustrating. Yet, he persevered and kept dreaming of traveling to the stars. Later, in junior high and high school, he encountered rejection from peers of his own race who accused him of “acting white” because of his interests and demeanor. While Jeffrey maintained a small group of close friends, the isolation was often soul-crushing. Science fiction became his refuge—his source of hope.

From Star Trek to Space: 1999, from Carl Sagan’s Cosmos to the novels of Arthur C. Clarke, Larry Niven, and Ben Bova, these works gave him a vision of a positive future—diverse, rational, and hopeful. Instead of growing up angry with a chip on his shoulder, Jeffrey evolved into a visionary motivated by the dream of inspiring a better tomorrow for all of humanity. Rather than identity politics or bitterness, his foundation became the pursuit of universal stories that could inspire everyone, regardless of race, age, or background. That objective has guided over three decades of creative innovation.

Today Jeffrey is a writer, director, and production designer focused on producing intelligent science-fiction films, and cinematic documentaries. His projects include the animated techno-fantasy Parallel Man, the forthcoming deep-space adventure Persephone, and the futuristic underwater disaster movie Oceanus.

Early in his career, Jeffrey directed shorts, commercials, and music videos—including for Prince and Paisley Park—as well as publishing children’s books and graphic novels. He co-wrote the novelization of Persephone with New York Times–bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson (Dune, Star Wars). In education, he founded the nonprofit Project Universe and brought Hollywood-style storytelling and visuals to initiatives at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, and the International Space University.

In 2012, Jeffrey established FutureDude, which began as a science blog and grew into a production company. Today, he and his team develop content rooted in smart, idealistic action/adventure stories, inspired by the Golden Age of 1960s and 70s science-fiction cinema. His latest documentary, The Eagle Obsession, is a fresh and unique culmination of that ethos.

Test audiences across a diverse demographic describe leaving The Eagle Obsession feeling inspired, with a sense of renewed optimism—a rare feeling in today’s media landscape. Positioned alongside works like CNN’s Apollo 11, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, and My Octopus Teacher, the documentary proves that imagination and resilience are not niche pursuits but universal forces. Stories rooted in the past can illuminate the path to a better shared future for us all.