Jonathan Wayne Valentour

About Jonathan Wayne Valentour

Jonathan Wayne Valentour is an Industrial Engineer and Systems Engineer at Ball Aerospace, part of BAE Systems, operating as Space & Mission Systems in Boulder, Colorado. The company focuses on creating technologies and solutions for space missions that serve national security, intelligence, and civilian needs. Duke’s role involves studying the engineering department’s workflow to understand assembly and fabrication operations’ cycle times and process durations.

He leads efforts to optimize processes within Research and Development, Production, and Depot Programs related to Optical Systems. This includes identifying root causes of process failures and developing solutions that ensure sustainable improvements. Duke frequently collaborates with production technicians to facilitate the effective implementation of these changes.

Starting as an intern in 2020, Duke earned a full-time position and was promoted in 2024, following Ball Aerospace’s acquisition by BAE Systems.

Jonathan Wayne Valentour’s interest in aviation was sparked early by visits to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio. Accompanied by his grandfather, Colonel Wayne Basset, he explored the museum’s extensive collection, which includes more than 360 aircraft and missiles, making it the largest military aviation museum globally. These experiences laid the foundation for his passion for flying.