Kim Crider
LIGHTPATH TECHNOLOGIESAbout Kim Crider
Independent Class III director at LightPath Technologies; age 61. Elected to the Board at the January 31, 2024 annual meeting following a career as the first Chief Technology and Innovation Officer of the U.S. Space Force (2019–2021) and a retired USAF Major General (1986–2019). Education: B.S. Electrical Engineering (Duke), MBA (Western New England), M.S. Military Studies (Air Command and Staff College), M.S. National Resource Strategy (National Defense University), Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior (Harvard). Independence affirmed under Nasdaq rules; serves on the Audit Committee and is designated an “audit committee financial expert.”
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Space Force | Chief Technology & Innovation Officer | 2019–2021 | Led technology and innovation; oversight of cybersecurity/data/AI initiatives |
| United States Air Force | Major General; progressive leadership roles | 1986–2019 | Senior leadership across technology and operations |
| Kim Crider & Associates; Leadership Matters | President (executive consulting) | 2016–2021 | Executive coaching and consulting for C‑suite |
| Elara Nova Space Consultancy, LLC | Founding Partner & Co‑CEO | Since May 2023 | Advisory in space sector; corporate accountability and risk oversight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Cybersecurity Center | Director | Since July 2021 | Board service in cybersecurity governance |
| Catalyst Campus for Technology & Innovation | Director | Since Jan 2022 | Board service; innovation ecosystem |
| Aalyria Technologies, Inc. | Board Advisor | Since Jan 2022 | Advisory board post |
| Virgin Orbit National Systems, LLC | Director | Apr 2022–Aug 2023 | Prior public/private company board experience |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Compensation, Finance, and Nominating committees do not list Crider as a member; Audit Committee chaired by Darcie Peck, with Crider and Dr. Joseph Menaker as members.
- Independence: Board determined Crider is independent under Nasdaq listing standards (FY2025).
- Audit expertise: Board designated her an “audit committee financial expert” per SEC rules.
- Attendance: Board met 12 times in FY2025; each director serving the full year attended ≥75% of Board+committee meetings; all directors attended the annual meeting.
- Board structure: Chair (independent) and CEO roles are separated; enhances oversight.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2025 Detail | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash retainer | $36,000 | Monthly retainer $3,000; no standard meeting fees; chair fees apply only to Board/committee chairs (Crider not a chair) |
| Equity retainer (RSUs) | $60,000 | Granted 19,355 RSUs on 06/16/2025 at $3.10 fair value per share |
| Total | $96,000 | Non‑employee director compensation summary |
Performance Compensation
| Award | Grant Date | Units | Vesting Schedule | Performance Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director RSUs | 01/31/2024 | 43,796 | Vests on first anniversary of grant (time‑based) | None disclosed (director equity awards are time‑based) |
| Director RSUs | 06/16/2025 | 19,355 | Vests on November 20, 2025 (time‑based) | None disclosed (director equity awards are time‑based) |
LightPath prohibits hedging and pledging of company stock by directors and officers, supporting alignment with shareholders.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Entity | Relationship to LPTH | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| National Cybersecurity Center; Catalyst Campus | No disclosed transactions with LPTH | None disclosed in related‑party section |
| Aalyria Technologies (Advisor) | No disclosed transactions with LPTH | None disclosed in related‑party section |
| Virgin Orbit National Systems (former) | No current role | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep expertise in aerospace, cybersecurity, data/AI, and IT; strengthens oversight of cyber risk, defense customer requirements, and technology roadmaps.
- Designated audit committee financial expert, bringing financial oversight capability to the Audit Committee.
- Senior leadership experience (USSF CTO; USAF Major General) indicates strong governance discipline and risk management background.
Equity Ownership
| Metric (as of Oct 21/24, 2025) | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Class A Common Stock | 49,796 | Beneficially owned |
| Restricted Shares/RSUs | 19,355 | Director RSUs; Crider did not elect to defer; vest 11/20/2025 |
| Stock Options | 0 | No options outstanding |
| Total Beneficial Ownership | 69,151 | Less than 1% of shares outstanding |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging |
Insider Trades (Form 4)
| Transaction Date | Type | Security | Quantity | Price | Post‑Txn Ownership | SEC Filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/31/2024 | Form 3; initial RSUs | RSUs | 43,796 | $0.00 | — | |
| 01/31/2025 | M (Exempt) | Class A Common | 43,796 | $0.00 | 43,796 | |
| 02/20/2025 | P (Open market) | Class A Common | 1,000 | $2.51 | 44,796 | |
| 06/16/2025 | A (Award) | RSUs | 19,355 | $0.00 | 19,355 (award) |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and audit oversight: Independent director and Audit Committee financial expert; strengthens financial reporting oversight and internal control review.
- Engagement: Board met 12 times (FY2025); directors attending the full year met ≥75% attendance; board‑level annual meeting participation was full.
- Alignment: Compensation mix balanced (cash retainer plus one‑year RSUs), with insider open market purchase in Feb 2025 signaling confidence. Hedging/pledging prohibited.
- Conflicts/related‑party: Company discloses related‑party transactions (none involving Crider indicated); conflicts must be disclosed under the Code and reviewed by the Audit Committee.
- Chair roles and committee leadership: Not a committee chair; primary contribution is audit oversight and cyber/AI/defense expertise.
No red flags identified for Crider in LPTH’s related‑party disclosures; insider purchase and absence of pledging support investor alignment. Continue to monitor any future engagements of Elara Nova or advisory roles for transactional ties to LPTH given defense sector overlap.