Ophir's management team includes exceptional leaders in program management, engineering, optics, contracts, quality assurance and business development. 

For more information contact us.

Dr. Loren D. Nelson, Chairman/CEO

Dr. Nelson founded Ophir Corporation more than 25 years ago with the hope to design and build novel instruments to learn more about the atmosphere.  Dr. Nelson now serves as chairman and CEO of Ophir. He continues to successfully find innovative lidar solutions for our customers’ challenging requirements.

He has more than 40 years of experience as a staff scientist, researcher in atmospheric science and meteorology.  Dr. Nelson holds numerous patents for optical sensors and techniques.  He has published extensively in the fields of geophysics, atmospheric physics, meteorology, and in the development of novel instrumentation.  He is also a certified meteorologist.  Dr. Nelson is a member of the Optical Society of America, SPIE, American Meteorological Society, and the American Geological Union.  He received his Ph.D. in geophysics at the University of Chicago in 1979 under a work-study program sponsored by the Air Force Geophysics Laboratory.

Mr. Martin J. O'Brien, President

Mr. O'Brien has been with Ophir for over 20 years and has held a variety of positions of increasing responsibility within the company.  Mr. O’Brien was the program manager for the successful contrail detection system—the Pilot Alert System—for the B-2 Bomber.

Mr. O'Brien began his career with Southern Research Institute as a research scientist.  He holds several U.S. patents covering optical technologies, including:  novel laser systems, optical remote sensing, infrared radiometers and optical methods for measuring atmospheric trace gas concentrations.  Mr. O’Brien is a member of SPIE and the Association of the United States Army.  Mr. O'Brien received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, with honors, and a minor in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines.

Ms. Lisa G. Spaeth, Director of Business Development

Ms. Spaeth leads the technology commercialization effort—applying our lidar capabilities to meet our current and future customer’s needs.  Ms. Spaeth is the primary contact for clients; she plans and implements commercialization strategies, outreach and public relations. 

Prior to joining Ophir, Ms. Spaeth served in business development and technology commercialization roles for several small high technology companies.  Ms. Spaeth began her career as a chemist at McDonnell Douglas Corporation, and continued in a series of research and development, materials engineering and business development roles.

Ms. Spaeth is a member of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), American Helicopter Society and Women in Aerospace.  Ms. Spaeth earned her BS in Chemistry from the University of California at Irvine and her Masters of Business Administration degree, with honors, from the University of California at Irvine.