About Us

WHY VELONTRA?

We are a small, tenacious, and agile business capable of producing technology much faster and more cost-effectively than traditional large defense primes.

We have assembled a team of industry experts, government senior executives, and a NASA astronaut.

WHAT VELONTRA DOES

  • Research and develop air-breathing hypersonic vehicle technology with defense and commercial applications
  • Prototype fully integrated systems utilizing Velontra’s enabling technologies
  • Testing and validation of full-scale prototypes
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OUR NICHE

  • Hypersonic Technology
  • Accelerating Development and Reducing the Cost of the Propulsion Design Cycle
  • Attritable Aerospace Solutions

OUR CORE VALUES

  • Innovative Problem Solving
  • Mission Accomplishment
  • Transforming the Defense of Freedom
  • Total Accountability

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Eric Briggs

COO

- Former Head of Engines at Virgin Orbit

- Aerospace Corporation propulsion lead for Falcon 9 certification

- Career arc working RL10, Merlin, and Newton engine families.

- Purdue Zucrow Labs alumnus

Joel Darin

CEO/CTO

Joel Darin

- First employee at Hermeus Corp; created Turbine based Combine Cycle Ramburner

- Worked in afterburner design at GE Aviation

- MSAE GA Institute of Technology

BOARD OF ADVISORS

Randy Lewis

Consulting Engineer GE Aviation (ret)

Randy Lewis

- Expert with 35+ years experience on aero, mechanical, and control systems.

- Worked on F101, F110, F136, and XA100 production programs among others)

Chris Beck

Founder, Innovative 3D Manufacturing

Chris Beck

- Metal 3D Printing Expert

- Extensive experience with 3D printed prototyping

- Manufactured prototypes/production for multiple applications

Art Suckewer

Founder/CEO Knite Inc

Art Suckewer

- Ignition System Expert

- Developed state of the art ignition technology

- Broad experience adapting technology to multiple applications

Craig Whelden

Major General, U.S. Army (ret)

Craig Whelden

- Major General, U.S. Army (ret)

- Senior Executive Service (SES) USMC (ret)

- Purdue University ROTC Hall of Fame

- Four-time award-winning, #1 international best-selling author

- Global Fortune 500 speaker

Jonathan George

Brigadier General USAF (ret)

Jonathan George

- Served on President Obama‘s National Security Council

- Senior Director, Defense Policy and Strategy, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory

- Command Pilot B2, B1, RC135, U2

Nancy Currie-Gregg

4X Space Shuttle Astronaut

Nancy Currie-Gregg

- Senior NASA Systems & Safety Engineer

- Dep Director, Bush Combat Development Complex (Texas A&M)

- Retired Army Colonel and Rotary Wing pilot

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Headquarters: Cincinnati, OH, US