About

About Duke Valentour

Duke Valentour is an Industrial Engineer and Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace/BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. Ball Aerospace, part of BAE Systems and now known as Space & Mission Systems, develops and delivers space-related technologies and solutions, focusing on national security, intelligence, and civilian space missions.

Duke also has his Commercial Pilot License and is a Certified Flight Instructor. His passion for aviation comes from his grandfather, an early influence on Duke’s journey in the skies.

Duke’s Work with Space & Mission Systems/BAE Systems

As an Industrial and Systems Engineer with Space & Mission Systems (Ball Aerospace), Duke Valentour is responsible for examining the engineering department workflow to identify the cycle and process times of assembly and fabrication operations and leads process improvement projects in Research and Development, Production, and Depot Programs for Optical Systems.

Duke Valentour performs root-cause analyses to uncover process failures and develop sustainable production solutions. He leads initiatives to improve processes and products while regularly engaging with production technicians.

He began as an intern at Ball Aerospace in 2020 and was later hired. In 2024, Duke was promoted to his current position. Ball Aerospace was acquired by BAE Systems in 2024.

Duke’s Aviation Journey

As a young boy, Jonathan Wayne Valentour grew up going to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (NMUSAF) located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio, with his grandfather, Colonel Wayne Basset. The NMUSAF is the world’s oldest and largest military aviation museum, with over 360 aircraft and missiles on display.

The trips with Duke’s grandfather to the museum sparked his interest and passion in aviation. In 2021, Duke passed his private pilot check ride while interning at Ball Aerospace. In 2023, he began the instrument rating process and successfully obtained his instrument pilot rating by the end of the year.

In early 2024, Duke Valentour began studying for his commercial license, and a few months later, he had his new plastic.  By the end of the year, he obtained his flight instructor license. He also got a job towing gliders at Mile High Gliding, a soaring outfit out of Boulder Airport, and as a flight instructor. 

Duke holds a Commercial Pilot License with an Instrument Rating and is a Certified Flight Instructor. He has earned endorsements for complex airplanes, high-performance aircraft, tailwheel operations, and glider towing. With 800 flight hours, including 250 hours in tailwheel aircraft and 10 hours in complex aircraft, he brings hands-on experience across various flight conditions and equipment. Professionally, Duke has served as a CFI at Journeys Aviation, worked as a tow pilot at Mile High Gliding, and instructed students in ground school, demonstrating both in-flight and classroom teaching expertise.

Duke’s Education: From High School to OSU

Jonathan Wayne Valentour attended Archbishop Alter High School in Kettering, Ohio, a co-educational, comprehensive Catholic private school committed to challenging students to reach their full potential. Duke played baseball and football while in high school. He and his football teammates went to the state playoffs during his sophomore, junior, and senior years.

In 2017, Duke attended Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, where he studied Engineering and completed his Bachelor of Science in Integrated Systems Engineering. At OSU, he was the ‘Business Development Lead’ for the Buckeye Space Launch Initiative from 2020 to 2021.

While at OSU, Duke worked at the Ball Packaging facility, making cans and lids. It was during this time that he became aware of Ball Aerospace. With sheer tenacity and perseverance, Duke obtained his internship there.

A Young Eagles Volunteer: Inspiring the Next Generation of Aviators

As a Young Eagles volunteer and member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Jonathan Wayne Valentour donates his time to provide free introductory flights to youth aged 8 to 17, fostering interest in aviation and potentially inspiring future pilots. He conducts pre-flight briefings, takes young people on the flight, and provides post-flight Q&A sessions.

The EAA was founded over seven decades ago by a group of individuals in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who were interested in building their airplanes, and it expanded its mission over the years. As an EAA member, Duke can share the spirit of aviation with a passionate community. He is passing on his love for flying just as his grandfather inspired him to take up aviation, along with the encouragement and support of his father.

Duke’s Interests

In addition to aviation, Duke enjoys hiking, skiing, and being outdoors. Whether navigating mountain trails on foot, carving down snowy slopes, or spending quiet moments taking in nature, Duke loves spending time outside. As a hiker and skier, he values both the physical challenge and the sense of freedom that comes with exploring nature. It’s not surprising that Duke’s hobbies involve the outdoors, considering his passion for aviation and the opportunity flying gives him to experience diverse landscapes from a unique perspective.