John Vilja, a San Fernando Valley native, is vice president of strategy, innovation, and growth at Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, where he has worked for 30 years. Before participating in a panel on what the country stands to lose if we stop going to space, he professed his love for California, the Ford GT, a good meatball pizza, and the wine grape in the Zócalo green room.
Growing up, what was your dream car?
Ford GT.
If you didn’t live in Southern California, where would you live?
Central California. I’ve traveled the world, and California’s got the diversity of people, the diversity of terrain, and this laid-back attitude that doesn’t exist anywhere else.
Do you have a favorite plant or flower?
I’ll go with the wine grape.
What profession would you like to practice in your next life?
Probably teacher—college professor.
What’s your favorite pizza topping?
Meatball. It’s got to be a good one—a good meatball pizza’s a thing of beauty.
Where do you come up with your best ideas?
When I’m asleep. I go to bed with all the unknown problems of the world, and I wake up in the morning—everything gets sorted out when I sleep.
What does it take to get you out on a dance floor?
Alcohol and a really good invitation.
What’s your hidden talent?
I’m not sure I have a hidden talent. Anything I’m reasonably good at I flaunt.
What’s your un-hidden but surprising talent?
I’m a really good underwater hunter—spearfishing underwater.
What’s the last habit you tried to kick?
I don’t know that I’ve ever tried to kick a habit. Fortunately, I’m not into anything that’s destructive, so I just kind of roll with it.