ARA hires L3Harris vet Gattle as chief executive

Antenna Research Associates has hired a new chief executive in Bill Gattle, who joins the communications technology maker with four decades of experience including 35 years at L3Harris Technologies.

Gattle will lead the next iteration of ARA’s strategy that centers around radio frequency content for airborne and precision-effects platforms, as well as ground infrastructure needed to support satellites in-orbit.

ARA said Tuesday that Gattle succeeds Logan Thiran, who led the company during a 14-year period that included its acquisition of SI2 Technologies in 2022 and sale to private equity firm OceanSound Partners two years later.

Prior to ARA, Gattle worked as CEO of LightRidge Solutions and helped oversee that company’s sale to Trident Solutions in 2023. He subsequently transitioned to chairman of the board of directors for Trident, a maker of RF and optical sensors.

At L3Harris, Gattle’s most recent role was president of space and intelligence systems. His career there also includes a stint as president of space and intelligence solutions for the heritage Harris Corp., which merged with L3 Technologies in 2019 to form L3Harris.