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

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Dr. Loren D. Nelson, Chairman of the Board

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 of the Board of Ophir.

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 BS in Engineering Physics, with honors, and a minor in Geophysics from the Colorado School of Mines.

Dr. Loren M. Caldwell, Director of Research & Development - Chief Technology Officer

Dr. Caldwell directs the technical aspects of both Ophir's Research & Development group, as well as our design, development and manufacturing efforts.  Dr. Caldwell has more than 24 years of scientific experience; he has designed, developed and flight-tested aerosol lidar systems. These projects include RMCW lidars for both commercial and military systems. He is the principal developer of Ophir’s optical air data system.

Dr. Caldwell holds several patents regarding lidar optical air data systems. His PhD work included the development of a high spectral resolution lidar measuring atmospheric state variables (i.e. temperature, pressure and density) and optical aerosol properties, including the backscatter coefficient and total molecular extinction coefficient.

Dr. Caldwell earned his PhD in Physics at Colorado State University, a BS in Engineering Physics, EE Option and a BS in Physics at Oregon State University.

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), the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), 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.

Mr. Jerry A. Myers, Director of Engineering

As Director of Engineering, Mr. Myers is responsible for the entire process from design to manufacture of Ophir's laser radar products. Mr. Myers has been with Ophir for over sixteen years. Mr. Myers is also responsible for maintaining two Depot Maintenance and Repair Facilities for the repair and retrofit of Ophir's fielded military, airborne laser radar systems. Previously, Mr. Myers was the Program Manager for U.S. Department of Energy laser radar projects, as well as for military design, development, test and manufacture programs.

Mr. Myers began his career as a Research Meteorologist for the Center for Energy Studies at Wichita State University, where he developed an extensive wind speed measurement network dedicated to mapping and utilizing the wind resources of the U.S. Great Plains Region. Some of Mr. Myers previous engineering experience includes the design of analog and digital circuitry in support of test and production military hardware at The Boeing Company, and the design of high speed, black and white, and color CCD digital cameras, which were integrated into large format optical scanners developed by ANAtech Corporation.

Mr. Myers has a BS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma in 1977 and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Wichita State University in 1985. Mr. Myers is also a member of IEEE and the American Meteorological Society.

Mr. Sven St. Peter, Director of Quality Assurance

Mr. Sven St. Peter leads the quality effort - ensuring commitment to meeting internal and external customer requirements and increasing customer satisfaction through continual improvements of its products, services, and ISO/AS9100 based Quality Management system.

Prior to joining Ophir Corporation, Mr. St. Peter has served in quality assurance for over 20 years in the Aircraft and Defense sectors. Mr. St. Peter began his career as an inspector in the Beechcraft flight test department, and subsequently continued to increase his roles and responsibilities in the Quality Assurance Field.

Mr. St. Peter has an organizational designated Airworthiness Certification issued by the San Antonio Manufacturing Inspection District Office, and is Airframe and Powerplant approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Mr. St. Peter is an honorably discharged veteran from the United States Army, and has a BS in Business Quality Management, with honors, from Southwestern College.