Jack Shaw graduated from Purdue with a BSEE in 1962 and joined Hughes Aircraft where he worked on the world's first successful geosynchronous communications satellite, Syncom II. He was involved in the development of Syncom III and was project manager for telemetry and command of the world's first commercial communications satellite, Intelsat I.

Beginning in 1969, Shaw served as director of field operations and later as director of program management for ITT Space Communications Inc., a position in which he worked with presidents and ministers of 30 countries establishing communication networks. In 1974 he became vice president of corporate development of Digital Communications Corp., a start-up company which was later acquired by Microwave Associates to form M/A-COM, Inc. In 1984 Shaw became president of M/A-COM, Inc. Later M/A-COM Telecommunications was sold to Hughes Aircraft and renamed Hughes Network Systems (HNS). Shaw was elected Chairman and CEO of the new subsidiary. Under his direction revenues have grown from $100 million to almost $600 million. Shaw also serves on the board of HNS companies in England, India, Italy, and Mexico.