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.
Joshua Hartman is Chief Strategy and Growth Officer at LightRidge Solutions, leading their strategy and business development, and responsible for ensuring successful corporate growth. Hartman is a champion of disrupting the space and intelligence communities by discovering novel technical and operational concepts as well as commercial approaches that solve national security problems.
Prior to joining LightRidge, Hartman was Managing Partner and CEO at a corporate strategy firm focused on creating company growth through organic and acquisitive activities in the Defense and Intelligence markets. Hartman has previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space and Intelligence as well as professional staff on the House Armed Services and House Appropriations Committees.
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.
Adam Marks is SVP Corporate Development at LightRidge, leading all corporate development and strategic investment initiatives for the company. He has two decades of executive experience working at Maxar, Thales, and Booz Allen Hamilton, focusing on strategic growth initiatives primarily across the space, defense, and aviation industries. He has advised both strategic companies and private equity sponsors with a particular focus on the worldwide space and defense technology markets.
Marks previously served as the Chief Strategy & Corporate Development Officer at Maxar Technologies’ Space Infrastructure division (formerly SSL). Prior to that, he served as the VP of Corporate Strategy and VP of Operations for Thales North America. While at Thales, Marks led a number of strategic M&A initiatives with over $5billion in combined transaction value.
Rich Gray is the President and General Manager of LightRidge Solutions’ GEOST operating unit, responsible for directing and overseeing the execution and growth of the business. Gray joined GEOST in December 2022 from General Dynamics Mission Systems.
Over a 26-year career at GD, he held roles ranging from engineering functional and project leadership through program management, and, most recently, operating unit leadership. Gray provides GEOST with balanced, steady, servant leadership to help the team focus on efficient, predictable execution to meet business and customer commitments.
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.
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.
Shandra Alver leads LightRidge Solutions human resources, responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resources (HR) function. With over 25 years of experience in all aspects of HR management, she establishes a vision and direction for the full complement of core human capital programs, policies, and services. This includes providing leadership and direction in the development of HR policies that promote maximum effectiveness and cohesiveness, while supporting the overall LightRidge mission.
Alver has been instrumental in providing leadership and oversight to LightRidge’s three regional HR offices, including leading the overall human resources strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, compensation and benefit administration, performance management, employee relations, legal compliance, and policy development. Alver has led HR teams in large corporations, small businesses, as well as start-up companies. She’s gained diverse HR experience while working in several industries including healthcare, software, aerospace, and global construction industries.
Alver holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Regis University. She is also certified to administer and interpret Emotional Intelligence EQ-i 2.0/ EQ 360 assessments.
