Duke Valentour

Duke Valentour is an Industrial and Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace, a BAE Systems division based in Boulder, Colorado. Ball Aerospace, now known as Space & Mission Systems, designs and develops technologies for space missions that support national security, intelligence, and civilian objectives. Duke holds a Commercial Pilot License and is a Certified Flight Instructor. His passion for aviation began early, and he was influenced by his grandfather, who encouraged his interest in flying. In his role at Ball Aerospace, Duke examines the engineering department’s workflows to identify cycle times and process efficiencies in assembly and fabrication operations. He leads projects focused on improving processes related to Optical Systems in Research and Development, Production, and Depot Programs. His responsibilities include conducting root cause analyses to uncover production issues and developing solutions to improve efficiency and quality. He regularly works with production technicians to implement these improvements. Duke began his career at Ball Aerospace in 2020 as an intern. He secured a full-time position and was promoted to his current role in 2024. That year, Ball Aerospace was acquired by BAE Systems, expanding its operations under the Space & Mission Systems umbrella. Jonathan Wayne Valentour’s love for aviation started in childhood during visits to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, Ohio, with his grandfather, Colonel Wayne Basset. These experiences sparked his fascination with military aviation. While interning at Ball Aerospace in 2021, Jonathan passed his private pilot check ride and earned his instrument rating by the end of 2023. In early 2024, Jonathan pursued and obtained his commercial pilot license, followed by his flight instructor certification. He began working as a tow pilot and flight instructor at Mile High Gliding, a glider towing operation at Boulder Airport. Duke holds endorsements for complex airplanes, high-performance aircraft, tailwheel operations, and glider towing. He has logged approximately 800 flight hours, including 250 in tailwheel aircraft and 10 in complex airplanes. His professional experience includes flight instruction at Journeys Aviation and tow pilot duties at Mile High Gliding, where he provides both in-flight and classroom training. Regarding education, Jonathan attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, where he played baseball and football. His football team reached the state playoffs during his sophomore, junior, and senior years. In 2017 he enrolled at Ohio State University in Columbus, earning a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Systems Engineering. While at OSU, Jonathan served as Business Development Lead for the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative from 2020 to 2021. Duke worked at the Ball Packaging facility during college, where he first learned about Ball Aerospace. His determination led him to secure an internship at the company, laying the foundation for his aerospace career. Jonathan Wayne Valentour volunteers with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program, which offers free introductory flights to youth aged 8 to 17 to encourage interest in aviation. Jonathan conducts pre-flight briefings, pilots flights with participants, and leads post-flight discussions. This work reflects his commitment to sharing his love of flying, inspired by his grandfather and father. Outside of work and flying, Duke enjoys hiking and skiing. He values the physical challenge and connection to nature that these activities provide. His appreciation for the outdoors complements his passion for flying, offering a unique perspective on the landscapes he explores on the ground and from the air.