Bill Gattle is the Chief Executive Officer of LightRidge Solutions, a private equity aerospace and defense company that specializes in high performance space and air collectors and sensors as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning. He brings 35 years of experience in the space, airborne, and intelligence markets, driving innovation and change to help government national security customers solve their most challenging problems.
Previously, Gattle was President of Space Systems for L3Harris Technologies’ Space & Airborne Systems segment. Gattle was responsible for the business strategy, financial performance, and successful execution of all programs within the space systems sector. Prior to leading Space Systems, he was President for Harris Corporation’s Space and Intelligence Systems segment until the company’s merger with L3 Technologies. In this role, Gattle covered an extensive portfolio of collection solutions in the intelligence community, air and space surveillance, small satellites, electronic warfare, wireless solutions and C4I systems.
He holds a Bachelor’s and Master of Science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida, and has been a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), and the National Space Council.
Jason Sanders is Chief Financial Officer at LightRidge Solutions, with two decades of financial experience in the aerospace, defense and manufacturing industries.
Previously, Sanders was Senior Vice President for Finance at Advanced Integration Technology and Finance Director and Controller at L-3 Mustang Technology.
James Yates is Chief Growth & Strategy Officer at LightRidge Solutions, where he will be responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the company’s business development functions. He also leads the company’s expansion in the space payload and space electronics markets. This includes identification of business opportunities, creating new market opportunities, lead capture of opportunities, and serve as the primary business development interface to these markets all while supporting the overall LightRidge mission.
James has over three decades of experience in the space an airborne sector as well as with telemetry and RF products, serving most recently as Vice President of Business Development & Strategy at Honeywell.
Lorin Hattrup is the President and General Manager of LightRidge Solutions’ Trident Systems operating unit, where he is responsible for the company’s overall leadership, performance, business strategy and expanding future business opportunities. Hattrup has over 23 years of experience in the defense and aerospace industry, fulfilling various roles including leadership, program management, engineering, strategic planning, business capture, and customer relationships.
Hattrup joined Trident in February 2024 from L3Harris Technologies, where he was most recently Executive General Manager of the Strategic Missions Division. He has also served as Executive General Manager in additional L3Harris organizations, including the F-35 Avionics Division and the Voice Switch Enterprise Division, as well as in earlier program management and engineering roles.
Nick Weiser is Chief Human Resources Officer for LightRidge Solutions, responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the Human Resources (HR) function. With over 20 years of experience in all aspects of HR management, he leads the core direction and platform for human capital programs, policies, and services. He also plays a key role in providing oversight to LightRidge’s three offices, including driving leadership development, compensation, benefits, performance management, talent acquisition, retention, employee relations, engagement, and succession planning.
Weiser joined LightRidge in October 2024 from L3Harris Technologies, where he was most recently Vice President, Human Resources for the Maritime Sector leading a team across six countries. He has a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from Nazareth College and a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the State University of New York at Fredonia
Jim Congdon is LightRidge Solutions’ Chief Software Officer, overseeing its software factory and autonomous mission solutions roadmap focused on national security space. He has over two decades of defense industry experience in remote sensing operations, software development, and engineering.
Prior to joining LightRidge, Congdon delivered command-and-control solutions and sensor data processing, exploitation, and dissemination chains for multiple sensor modalities, including Electro-Optical/Infrared, Laser Radar, and hyperspectral imagery.
Dr. Skip Williams is LightRidge Solution’s Chief Technology Officer, responsible for the definition and implementation of the company’s long-term technology strategy. He was previously Director of Business Development and Technical Fellow at L3Harris Technologies, where he drove technical innovation and spearheaded new business.
Prior to his tenure at L3Harris, Williams was the Chief Executive Officer and President of OEwaves Inc. providing state-of-the-art radio frequency and laser photonic technologies and products for sensing, communications, and test and measurement. Williams has over 20 years of government service and held senior positions at Naval Information Warfare Center, the Navy’s technical authority and acquisition command for C4ISR and space systems, as well as the Space Vehicles, Aerospace Systems, and Directed Energy Directorates of the Air Force Research Laboratory. He has also held positions with the Department of Energy at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. In these positions, he has used his technical leadership to improve business performance across a diverse range of defense research and technology development activities.
