In this episode, Terentia sits down with Tony Gingiss, the Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Orbit to discuss the concept of a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world and how you can create an environment where your teams are thriving and not just surviving in this world. The episode also delves into Tony’s personal leadership journey and how he successfully led his team through a crisis that tested both him and his leadership team during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tony is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Virgin Orbit where he is responsible for the day to day management of all operations including; Program Management / Mission Delivery, Manufacturing, Engineering, Flight and Launch Operations, and Supply Chain and Facilities.
Prior to his role at Virgin Orbit, Tony was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of OneWeb Satellites, a joint venture between Airbus and OneWeb created to design & manufacture 648 satellites, at 2 per day, for OneWeb’s low earth orbit constellation and to provide low cost, high quality satellites to the market, revolutionizing the economics of space. Tony led the organization from late 2017 to early 2021 spanning the completion of critical design ramp up, production of 2 satellites a day and a launch of over 100 satellites.
Tony has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from Purdue University, and Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from MIT. He has more than 30 years of experience in the Aerospace industry and prior to his current position, Tony was a Director of Strategic Integration and Programs at Boeing Satellite Systems in El Segundo, CA. He began his career at Hughes Space and Communications (now Boeing Satellite Systems) as a Mission Analyst, and subsequently worked in Ground Systems, Systems Engineering, and ultimately Program Management. He worked on both Commercial and Government programs across all phases including; business development, concept, design, product development, delivery, and on-orbit support.
Tony has a passion for, and has been active in corporate citizenship and outreach activities, at the local, state, and national levels throughout his career. He is also a passionate advocate for a diverse and inclusive workforce in the Aerospace industry and industry at-large.
