As Virgin Galactic prepares to welcome the first Future Astronauts to Spaceport America, the company has tapped former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde as a strategic advisor to help design the overall experience.
On Monday (February 22, 2021), Virgin Galactic announced the appointment of legendary former Disney Imagineer Joe Rohde as Experience Architect. In his new advisory role, Rohde will help design and guide the overall guest experience for Future Astronauts, friends and family and inspired fans. Mr. Rohde becomes Virgin Galactic’s first Experience Architect, bringing over 40 years of experience with Walt Disney Imagineering, where he contributed to the design of iconic attractions and experiences. In his new position, he will work to stimulate curiosity, guide the imagination, and anchor the Virgin Galactic guest experience.
Joe Rohde recently visited Virgin Galactic’s Spaceport America in New Mexico and as part of his interview, said,
“I spent 40 years with Walt Disney Imagineering and that word, ‘Imagineering,’ refers to the fusion of imagination and engineering. This means I’ve come from a tradition where if you are imagining something, you are imagining that thing is going to be made real. That’s also been going on here at Virgin Galactic, and I’m delighted to be joining at this incredible moment in time when it is about to blossom into public awareness.
“This is one of the most profound things that can happen to you. To go beyond the reaches of the earth, to space, and look back down at it. It’s a spectacularly unique opportunity with huge potential for transformational change in a person…What Virgin Galactic is doing, in democratizing space travel, has reached a moment where it is about to enter history. It’s happening right here in New Mexico, and it’s very rare to be a person who gets to be in the place, at the time, that history begins.’’
Commenting on the new appointment, Virgin Galactic’s CEO, Michael Colglazier, added,
“As soon as I joined Virgin Galactic, I knew there was one person we just had to work with to help shape the incredible experience we are developing – and that person was Joe Rohde. Joe has a methodology that is unique, inspired, and truly effective. His track record for keeping authenticity central to the design and creating deeply transformative experiences aligns perfectly with our mission. I couldn’t be more pleased to see Joe choose Virgin Galactic for his first encore!’’
The video below, courtesy of Virgin Galactic, introduces Mr. Rohde to Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts, enthusiasts and fans.
Virgin Galactic Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPCE) is a vertically integrated aerospace and space travel company, pioneering spaceflight for researches and individuals, as well as a manufacturer of advanced air and space vehicles. The company is developing a spaceflight system designed to offer customers a unique and transformative experience.
Source: Virgin Galactic
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