Jed grew up in the village of Millbrook, and his interest in international issues and other cultures started at Millbrook School. After earning a B.A. in political science from Columbia College at Columbia University, he launched his international career as a Peace Corps volunteer in Mali in West Africa. He lived in a remote village for two years and immersed himself in the Malian culture. He was a Natural Resources volunteer, helping farmers with tree planting techniques, mango grafting, and soil conservation. After returning from Mali, he worked at an economic consulting company before following his international interests by earning a master's degree in public affairs from the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, concentrating in development studies. After graduate school, he worked at an international development consulting firm drafting proposals for USAID projects and implementing projects in Turkey and Yemen.

 

Jed’s international path led him to the U.S. Department of Commerce, where he has been working since 2001, focusing on U.S. trade policy and assisting U.S. companies in accessing overseas markets. He began as a desk officer in the Office of Africa, covering several Southern African countries. Since 2010, he has been the deputy director of the Office of South Asia, managing a small team of professionals. His time at Commerce has given him the opportunity to become a part of the trade policy community in Washington, D.C., and to travel to Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and India.