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Ophir’s advanced lidar sensors are mission critical on some of the nation’s most cherished military aviation platforms. We have over 30 years experience providing small yet powerful and affordable lidar sensors across a variety of applications and missions.

Our Company

Ophir, a part of LightRidge Solutions, is a leader in highly-capable remote lidar sensors for austere environments.  We have over 30 years experience designing, developing, manufacturing and servicing advanced lidar products to solve our military and commercial customers’ most challenging remote-sensing needs. Ophir and sister operating units, Geost and Trident Systems, leverage deep expertise in optics and lasers to provide powerful and affordable space, airborne and ground sensor payloads that are small in size, weight, and power.

Our Mission

At Ophir, we foster a workplace of innovation, promoting employee growth and wellness, enabling our team to focus on designing, developing, and supporting laser radar systems for military and commercial markets. We strive to provide sophisticated yet affordable laser radar sensors for multiple applications and missions that solve our customer’s most challenging needs. Ophir prioritizes exceptional customer satisfaction by continually improving our products and services.

our Vision

Ophir strives to expand into new national security missions and commercial applications, leveraging our unique and extensive lidar experience and skills to overcome previously unsolved problems. Our dedication to our people, as well as excellence in the full life-cycle of research through maintenance support, underpins our exceptional flight-qualified avionics and advanced sensors for harsh environments and demanding performance requirements.

Our Leaders

Rich Gray
President/General Manager
(Ophir/Geost)
Michael Judy
VP, Engineering & Technology
(Ophir/Geost)
Shandra Alver
VP Human Resources
(LightRidge Solutions/Ophir)
Matt Sowadski
Business Unit Director
Dr. Loren "Max" Caldwell
Mission Architect
Eric Mear
Director of Manufacturing
© 2024 Ophir. All Rights Reserved.
Rich Gray
President/General Manager

Rich Gray is the President/General Manager of LightRidge Solutions’ Ophir operating unit, responsible for overseeing the execution of the business.  Rich joined the LightRidge team 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.  Rich provides Ophir with balanced, steady, servant leadership to help the team focus on efficient, predictable execution to meet business and customer commitments.

 

Rich holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physics from Alma College in Alma, Michigan and also an MBA from University of Phoenix.

Michael Judy
VP, Engineering & Technology

Michael Judy is Ophir’s Vice President of Engineering & Technology, with over 25 years of military and aerospace industry experience. He has held numerous leadership roles with increasing responsibility, spanning a career in a variety of military and civilian capacities.  A retired Navy Commander, Michael has previously served as Engineering Site Lead and Director of Engineering for Honeywell, Director of Engineering for BE Aerospace, and Engineering Lead for Northrop Grumman. He has provided site leadership directing research, technical design, development, process development, and commercialization of innovative solutions. Michael developed and led global teams supporting business growth objectives, establishing global footprints in India, China, Germany, and the Czech Republic.

Michael earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kennesaw State and a Master of Business Administration from Park University.

Shandra Alver
VP, Human Resources

Shandra is a versatile Human Resources leader with over 25 years of experience in all aspects of Human Resources Management. Shandra is Vice President of Human Resources for LightRidge Solutions, responsible for leading the company’s overall human resources strategy, talent acquisition, leadership development, compensation and benefit administration, performance management, employee relations, legal compliance, policy development and learning and development.

Prior to joining Ophir in 2016, Shandra worked with both large corporations, small businesses, and start-up companies. She boasts a wide range of Human Resources experience across several industries, including healthcare, software, aerospace, and global construction.

Shandra earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Regis University.

Matt Sowadski
Business Unit Director

Matt Sowadski is the Business Unit Director for Ophir. Matt oversees Project and Portfolio Management for both DoD and commercial activities associated with extensive laser radar (lidar) solutions and advanced technology support.

Matt has more than 20 years of cumulative aerospace, Department of Defense, and business leadership experience and bolsters an impressive track record of driving growth and innovation. He provides strategic guidance on the scope, goals and deliverables associated with the execution of programs by the Ophir team.

He earned a Master of Science in Management from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Northern Iowa. He continued his Program Management leadership development with a Program Management Certificate from Boston University and a PMP certification from the Program Management Institute.

Dr Loren Caldwell
Mission Architect

Dr. Loren M. Caldwell is Ophir’s Mission Architect, guiding the technical development for the company’s Research & Development group, as well as for its design, development, and manufacturing efforts. Dr. Caldwell has more than 24 years of scientific experience, specializing in the design, development, and flight-testing of advanced laser radar (lidar) systems. He has developed prototype lidar systems for airborne optical air data, ice detection and turbulence detection applications, as well as ground-based wind profiling applications.  These projects include random modulated continuous wave (RMCW) lidars for both commercial and military systems.

The principal developer of Ophir’s optical air data system, Dr. Caldwell holds several patents regarding lidar optical air data systems.

Dr. Caldwell is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Meteorological Society, Optical Society of America and the American Institute of Physics.  Dr. Caldwell earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Colorado State University, a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, Electrical Engineering Option and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Oregon State University.

Eric Mear
Director of Manufacturing

Eric Mear is the Director of Manufacturing at Ophir with more than ten years of engineering and manufacturing experience in a variety of roles. Eric has led several product line redesign launches, production facilities relocations, and development of manufacturing processes and procedures from the ground-up.

Eric earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University while contributing to the EcoCAR 2 challenge.

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10184 W. Belleview Avenue Suite 200
Littleton, CO, USA 80127

(303) 933-2200