APARNA CHITALE

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

Virgin Galactic is able to scale its business and grow an innovative commercial space company, headquartered in Orange County, in large part due to the incredible work our our People Team, led by Aparna Chitale, our chief people officer. Over the past year, Chitale and her team: hired a recruiting team which brought in over 550 new engineers, design leaders, technical operations crew and commercial teammates. Chitale implemented the Human Resources infrastructure necessary to scale a complex consumer-facing design and engineering company, including delivery of a comprehensive benefits policy overhaul and implementation of a new compensation and performance review system. She also brought forward an innovative recognition platform built around Virgin Galactic’s values and successfully managed the transition to a new headquarters location and a hybrid working environment.

Above all, Chitale has become a trusted partner and advisor to the senior team and the board of directors, and she is a mentor and advocate to teammates at all levels across the company. She is an avid champion of inclusion in the workplace and the world, and and she is incredible champion of Virgin Galactic’s mission of opening Space for All.