Gattle, a nearly 40-year space and defense executive who led L3Harris’ space systems business and guided LightRidge through a 2025 divestiture, will succeed Logen Thiran after a 14-year tenure.
Gattle brings nearly 40 years of space and defense leadership, including roles at Harris, L3Harris and LightRidge.
ARA is a long-established antenna and RF specialist (founded 1963) with more than 50 patents and capabilities across design, manufacturing, testing and installation.
Gattle’s recent experience includes overseeing LightRidge’s Geost business sale to Rocket Lab and serving on LightRidge’s board and as chair of Trident Solutions.
Bill Gattle has been appointed president and chief executive officer of Antenna Research Associates (ARA). He replaces Logen Thiran, who served as ARA's CEO since 2012 and leaves after a 14-year run. The company announced the leadership change on Sept. 23, 2026.
Gattle is described as a space and defense executive with nearly 40 years of leadership experience. His recent roles include serving as president of L3Harris Technologies' space systems business and as president of space and intelligence solutions at Harris before the 2019 Harris–L3 merger. He oversaw programs and business functions spanning satellite and airborne sensing, ISR payloads, small spacecraft programs, data analysis and electronic warfare.
After Harris and L3Harris, Gattle joined LightRidge Solutions as CEO and later served on LightRidge's board. He was chair of the board at Trident Solutions, the successor to LightRidge. In 2025 he led the sale of LightRidge's Geost business to Rocket Lab. He remains on LightRidge's board at the time of the announcement.
ARA was established in 1963 and provides antennas and radio frequency systems for military and civilian aerospace customers. The company's capabilities include design, manufacturing, testing and installation of antennas and RF subsystems that support communications, tactical radio frequency and radar applications. ARA positions its technology for national security missions and edge tactical communications.
OceanSound Partners invested in ARA citing the company's electromagnetic spectrum expertise and a portfolio of more than 50 patents. Ted Shanahan, a partner at OceanSound, called those technical strengths a reason to back the company and said they align ARA to support use cases such as unmanned aircraft, airborne sensing and identification, and tactical communications at the edge.
For defense and aerospace customers that buy antennas, RF subsystems and related services, a CEO with deep space and national-security program experience can affect product roadmaps, contract capture and supplier relationships. For investors and partners, Gattle's mix of operating and deal-making experience provides a profile suited to companies that need both technical depth and strategic partnerships or M&A activity.
ARA appointed a seasoned space and defense executive to succeed a long-serving CEO. The change pairs ARA's decades-long technical footprint and patent set with leadership experienced in large space-system businesses and recent corporate transactions.
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