World View Names Obie Jones as Chief Operating Officer

Former Boeing executive will play a critical role in establishing safety, manufacturing and supply chain procedures.

TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--World View, the leading stratospheric ballooning company, today announced the appointment of Obie Jones as Chief Operating Officer (COO). Jones comes to World View from Boeing, where he spent 35 years. Most recently he served as the Vice President Vertical Lift and Integrated Systems Operations. He is the first of several key executive-level hires at World View.

“World View is proud to be at the forefront of a quickly evolving industry. As we scale this program globally, it is important that we cultivate a team that shares our vision of not only changing the way people view space tourism, and also understands that the ultimate goal of these technological advances is to ensure the preservation of our world and its resources. Obie brings experience in operating at scale and the discipline necessary for delivering results; both key elements for World View’s growth stage as we prepare for the next phase for our company,” said Ryan Hartman, World View President and CEO.

As World View continues to redefine what is possible in space tourism and high-altitude observation, Jones will serve as a key member of the company’s executive leadership team driving major growth and change as World View’s new COO. He will lead Engineering and Manufacturing efforts, while refining World View’s global sourcing and partnership strategy. Jones will be a key member in scaling World View’s Global Operations and introduction of the new Explorer Capsule.

While at Boeing, Jones ran operations across multiple divisions and sites, including space and autonomous systems divisions. In his most recent role, he collaborated with leadership teams on Space Launch Systems and Commercial Crew Programs. Jones holds a Master’s in Management from Purdue University, as well as a Bachelor’s in Architectural Engineering from the University of Texas.

“I’m excited to join World View during this crucial time of exponential growth and will work to make sure that trajectory continues,” said Jones. He continued, “I’m eager to help World View form global partnerships as well as ensuring that we operate according to our company’s values.”

Earlier this month, World View announced the creation of a space tourism program, which will begin its first commercial flights in early 2024. World View voyages will originate in such locations as the Grand Canyon, Great Barrier Reef, Giza Pyramids, Great Wall of China and more. Flights will lift eight participants and two World View crew members in a zero-pressure stratospheric balloon and pressurized space capsule to 100,000 feet altitude, nearly 23 miles into the stratosphere, for a transformative experience that will last six to 12 hours. Participants will fully experience and immerse themselves in the beauty, fragility, history, and importance of the areas surrounding each location and of the Earth itself.

For more information on World View, please visit www.worldview.space.

ABOUT WORLD VIEW

World View is the leading stratospheric ballooning company on a mission to turn space tourism into Earth activism. Through both its legacy stratollite imaging and newly launched space tourism and exploration businesses, World View is working to ensure its ultimate objective: honor the Earth so that future generations will feel blessed to call it home.