Duke Valentour

Duke Valentour is an Industrial Engineer and Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace/BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. Now operating under Space & Mission Systems, Ball Aerospace develops and delivers space-related technologies and solutions for national security, intelligence, and civilian space missions.

Duke holds a Commercial Pilot License and is a Certified Flight Instructor. His interest in aviation was inspired early on by his grandfather, who played a significant role in his journey toward flying.

At Ball Aerospace, Duke Valentour analyzes the engineering department’s workflows, identifying cycle and process times of assembly and fabrication operations. He leads process improvement projects across Research and Development, Production, and Depot Programs for Optical Systems. His responsibilities include conducting root cause analyses to uncover process failures and developing sustainable solutions. He frequently works with production technicians to improve processes and products.

Duke began his career at Ball Aerospace as an intern in 2020 and was later hired full-time. In 2024, he was promoted to his current role. That same year, Ball Aerospace was acquired by BAE Systems.

Jonathan Wayne Valentour’s passion for aviation began in childhood. Growing up near Dayton, Ohio, he visited the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force with his grandfather, Colonel Wayne Basset. These trips fueled his interest in 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 Wayne Valentour began working toward his commercial pilot license, achieving it later that year alongside his flight instructor license. He started as a tow pilot and flight instructor at Mile High Gliding, a glider towing company based at Boulder Airport.

Portfolio : https://dukevalentour.com