Duke Valentour
Commercial Pilot, Formerly Industrial and System Engineer
Duke Valentour is an Industrial and Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace, part of BAE Systems, located in Boulder, Colorado. Now operating as Space & Mission Systems, Ball Aerospace develops advanced technologies and solutions to support space missions focused on national security, intelligence, and civilian purposes.
Duke holds a Commercial Pilot License and is a Certified Flight Instructor. His early interest in aviation was inspired by his grandfather, who encouraged his passion for flying.
At Ball Aerospace, Duke reviews workflows in the engineering department, focusing on cycle and process times related to assembly and fabrication operations. He leads projects to improve processes across Research and Development, Production, and Depot Programs for Optical Systems. His role includes conducting root cause analyses to identify production challenges and develop sustainable solutions. Duke works closely with production technicians to implement improvements in both processes and products.
Duke started as an intern at Ball Aerospace in 2020 and was hired full-time soon after. In 2024, he was promoted to his current position. Ball Aerospace became part of BAE Systems under the Space & Mission Systems division that same year.
Jonathan Wayne Valentour’s love for aviation began during childhood visits to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force near Dayton, Ohio, where he went with his grandfather, Colonel Wayne Basset. These visits 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 his commercial pilot license, which he obtained later that year along with his flight instructor certification. He began working as a tow pilot and flight instructor at Mile High Gliding at Boulder Airport.
Duke holds endorsements for complex airplanes, high-performance aircraft, tailwheel operations, and glider towing. He has logged around 800 flight hours, including 250 hours in tailwheel aircraft and 10 hours in complex airplanes. His professional experience includes flight instruction at Journeys Aviation and towing gliders at Mile High Gliding, where he provides flight and ground instruction.
Jonathan attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, where he played baseball and football. His football team qualified for the state playoffs in his sophomore through senior years. In 2017, he enrolled at Ohio State University in Columbus and earned a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Systems Engineering. While at OSU, Jonathan was the 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 persistence helped him secure an internship with the company, laying the foundation for his aerospace career.
Jonathan Wayne Valentour volunteers with the Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagles program. This program offers free introductory flights to youth aged 8 to 17 to encourage interest in aviation. Jonathan leads pre-flight briefings, flies with participants, and hosts post-flight question sessions. This work reflects his commitment to sharing his passion for flying, inspired by his grandfather and father.
Outside of his professional and aviation activities, 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, giving him a unique view of the landscapes he explores on the ground and from the air.
