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    Why Bridger

    About Bridger Photonics

    Entire Bridger Team Looking Up - Overhead View

    At Bridger Photonics, our mission is simple:

    Make emissions reduction simple

    We provide clear, reliable emissions data that helps energy companies and regulators take action with confidence. What started as a small Montana team of innovators has grown into a trusted partner for operators across the globe. By delivering data that’s both accurate and actionable, we empower our partners to strategically reduce emissions.

    Our Story

    Bridger Photonics was born from the minds of three grad students. After early commercial and government contract work, the team built a proprietary LiDAR engine for highly precise distance measurements and 3D imaging. Seeking new applications, they discovered its potential to detect and measure gas. With support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program, Bridger developed a methane emission detection system that has since evolved into the industry leading Gas Mapping LiDAR® (GML).

    Today, GML data combined with Bridger’s advanced emissions analytics leads the industry in emissions monitoring, helping oil and gas operators cut costs, reduce risk, and meet regulatory and ESG demands.

    Shelves of Bridger GML devices with Man Working in Background
    750,000+

    Emission events mapped

    9 of 10

    Top U.S. natural gas producers trust Bridger

    30+

    Patents and patents pending

    90%

    Detection probability for >1 kg/hr emissions

    Growth and Innovation

    As Bridger expanded and set a new industry standard for methane detection, so did the scale of the company’s impact.

    In the years that followed the initial development of GML, Bridger entered a period of rapid growth. Energy producers across North America adopted the technology at scale, validating its accuracy and reliability in the field. Bridger’s work gained recognition from regulators and international frameworks, even helping shape methane monitoring standards. At the same time, Bridger scaled its capacity, expanded its team, and built additional data solutions needed to meet rising demand. 

    Today, Bridger operates on multiple continents, and is trusted by top operators across the oil and gas sector, including Chevron, Repsol, Cheniere, Phillips 66, and many more.

    Our Values

    At Bridger, culture is as important as technology. The company is fundamentally grounded in the following core values

    Above all else, we value technical excellence, integrity, and honesty.

    We believe teamwork, creativity, and a strong work ethic critically enable our success.

    We deeply value one another, our families, our community, and a sense of balance in life.

    These values don’t hang on a wall. They show up in how Bridger treats their clients, supports their employees, and how they deliver results that can be trusted.

    Why Bozeman?

    Bridger is proud to call Bozeman, Montana home. Nestled in the Rocky Mountains, Bozeman is more than a beautiful place to live; it’s a hub of innovation. 

    With Montana State University just down the road, a deep bench of laser and photonics expertise has flourished here, making Bozeman a global center for advanced optics.

    This unique mix of world-class science and mountain-town grit gives Bridger its edge. The team gets to ski powder in the morning and solve pressing challenges in the afternoon. We believe that balance makes us stronger.

    group-shot-2025-07-31-001

    Major Milestones

    Here are just some of the moments that define Bridger’s journey

    2006

    Three grad school friends join together to found Bridger Photonics in Bozeman, Montana

    2011

    Bridger is ranked as Inc. Magazine fastest-growing privately held U.S. company in the engineering sector

    2015

    Bridger was awarded a grant by the U.S. DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E)

    2019

    Bridger’s Gas Mapping LiDAR launched commercially

    2020

    The company expands, scanning every basin across North America

    2025

    Bridger launches its first emissions detection programs outside of the U.S.—in Australia and South America

    2025

    Ben Little steps into role as CEO amid significant growth and global partnerships; Dr. Peter Roos transitions to role as Chief Innovation Officer

    2025

    Bridger Photonics continues to expand its impact globally, finding new ways to help oil and gas operators across the globe detect and reduce methane emissions

    Leadership Team

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    Ben Little Chief Executive Officer

    Ben Little leads Bridger Photonics as CEO, driving its mission to provide the most trusted emissions data in the world. With a background spanning engineering and business leadership, Ben focuses on scaling Bridger’s growth, delivering high-value methane insights to customers, and positioning the company as the global leader in emissions data. Under his leadership, Bridger is increasing market share, strengthening customer adoption, and expanding across new sectors and countries.
    Ben Little Chief Executive Officer
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    Joel Baller Chief Operating Officer

    Joel Baller is a proven software executive with decades of experience scaling startups into global leaders. He brings extensive experience in operational excellence and process optimization, driving efficiency across teams while supporting the company’s rapid growth and innovation. As COO, he oversees the Go to Market teams alongside the operational team, overseeing the entire customer-facing team.
    Joel Baller Chief Operating Officer
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    Dr. Peter Roos Chief Innovation Officer

    As co-founder and former CEO, Pete Roos led Bridger Photonics from startup to industry leader. Now as Chief Innovation Officer, he focuses on advancing next-generation products and sustaining Bridger’s technological edge. Pete’s track record of entrepreneurial leadership, coupled with his deep technical expertise, ensures the company continues to innovate and expand its market leadership in emissions data.
    Dr. Peter Roos Chief Innovation Officer
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    Nate Gorence Chief Business Officer

    Nate Gorence is a climate technology executive with deep expertise in strategy, investment, and scaling high-growth companies. He co-led strategy during Impossible Foods’ hyper-growth phase, oversaw clean tech investment at Gates Ventures, and guided commercialization of breakthrough energy technologies at ARPA-E. At Bridger Photonics, he oversees corporate strategy, finance, and government relations, positioning the company for sustainable growth and industry leadership.
    Nate Gorence Chief Business Officer
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    Ryan Sullivan Chief Technology Officer

    Ryan Sullivan brings over three decades of experience in the technology sector, with a proven track record of building and scaling world-class data platforms and software organizations from startups to publicly traded companies. At Bridger, he is spearheading the evolution of Bridger’s data delivery speed and data insights offerings, ensuring operators can derive actionable insights, and building Bridger’s growing data platform. 
    Ryan Sullivan Chief Technology Officer
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    Mike Thorpe Chief Scientist

    Mike Thorpe is Bridger Photonics’ Chief Scientist, responsible for advancing the scientific foundation behind the company’s technology. He has been instrumental in pioneering new approaches in laser-based sensing, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in atmospheric and emissions measurement.
    Mike Thorpe Chief Scientist
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    Catlan McCurdy Chief Legal Officer

    Catlan McCurdy leads Bridger Photonics’ legal, compliance, and governance functions, ensuring the company’s innovation and global expansion are supported by a strong legal foundation. Having advised Bridger as external counsel since 2017, she brings deep institutional knowledge and international expertise to her role. As Bridger scales into new markets worldwide, Catlan partners closely with the executive team to manage risk, protect intellectual property, and build frameworks for sustainable growth.
    Catlan McCurdy Chief Legal Officer
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    Anne Ready Head of Product

    Anne Ready leads product strategy and development at Bridger Photonics, bringing years of experience both in climate tech and across large tech companies like Google and Adobe. As Head of Product, aligning Bridger’s technological innovation with evolving customer and regulatory needs. With a sharp focus on product-market fit and customer adoption, she ensures Bridger’s offerings deliver maximum value and scalability in the growing emissions management market.
    Anne Ready Head of Product

    Talk to an Expert

    Let’s find out how GML can support your methane management goals.