ABOUT US
At Vista Photonics, our mission is to pioneer advanced laser-based sensing technologies that empower critical environmental and space research. We are dedicated to fostering innovation through collaborations with government agencies and industry partners, driving progress that shapes the future of optical detection.
Our technical team possesses extensive expertise in developing optical trace gas detection instruments, covering board design, software development, programming, and device architecture. Additionally, we ensure our accounting and property management systems fully comply with or surpass DCAA and DCMA standards.
Vista Photonics is dedicated to delivering exceptional customer value through high-quality products and reliable service. Our mission is to ensure complete customer satisfaction by offering the finest gas detection and monitoring instruments available. We maintain rigorous quality standards, holding ISO 9001:2015 and AS 9100D:2016 certifications which are reviewed annually and triennially by Performance Review Institute. Our facility is also certified to ANSI/ESD S20.20-2014 by DQS, Inc., and has earned Category 1 Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) certification from the NASA Johnson Space Center Electrostatic Discharge Testing and Verification Office.
Meet Our Expert Team
Discover the dedicated professionals driving innovation at Vista Photonics.
Jeffrey S. Pilgrim, PhD
President and Founder
Dr. Pilgrim leads with decades of laser sensor research and pioneering optical detection technologies experience. He earned his PhD at the University of Georgia under Professor Michael Duncan, PhD in the Department of Chemistry, where he honed his expertise in time-of-flight mass spectrometry and laser spectroscopy in supersonic molecular beams. This work laid the foundation for a career at the intersection of scientific research and real-world application.
After completing his PhD, Dr. Pilgrim was a post doctoral research associate at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, CA working in gas phase chemical kinetics. He then worked at Innovative Lasers in Tucson, AZ and Southwest Sciences in Santa Fe, NM before founding Vista Photonics, Inc. in 2003.
Dr. Pilgrim has authored 32 publications and holds 13 U.S. patents, along with 16 international patents. He has earned numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Georgia in 2023.
Taylor Pilgrim
Quality System Manager
As our Quality System Manager, Taylor oversees the Quality Management System, ensuring full compliance with ISO 9001 and AS9100 standards. He leads both certification and internal audits, manages corrective actions, and serves as the primary liaison between the company and external representatives. Through strategic leadership and hands-on involvement in compliance, audits, and daily operations, Taylor guarantees the highest standards of deliverable integrity, reliability, and contract adherence.
After college, Taylor was a Residential Installation and Service Technician, specializing in installing, troubleshooting, and maintaining voice, video, and data services for both residential and business clients. In this role, he developed strong skills in root-cause analysis, adherence to regulatory standards, and delivering customer-focused solutions. He has supplemented his experience with Certified Lead Auditor and Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) training. Taylor is also a member of the American Society for Quality.
Haylie Glass
Associate Electrical Engineer
Haylie graduated from New Mexico State University with both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering. During her graduate studies, she focused her research on long-distance optical communication. After earning her degrees, she contributed to the development and maintenance of satellite communication systems at NMSU’s Nanosatellite Laboratory.
Since joining Vista Photonics, Haylie has earned workmanship and inspection certifications in soldering to NASA J-STD-001S standards and in Cable and Wire Harness Assemblies per the latest IPC/WHMA A-620S guidelines. These qualifications enable her to expertly support the fabrication of electronics for flight instruments. She is also instrumental in maintaining our facility’s compliance with ESD standards through routine daily and monthly verifications. Additionally, Haylie manages the comprehensive circuit analysis documentation required for every project.
Melissa M. Pilgrim
Chief Administrative Officer
Melissa serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and Co-owner of Vista Photonics. She oversees daily administrative operations and leads long-term financial planning and budgeting. Her role also encompasses finance, business and contract services, human resources, facilities planning, and executive management of the company.
Melissa holds a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences from the University of Georgia and continued her education by earning multiple certifications in Accounting, Business Administration, and Project Management. She has undergone extensive training in Cost Accounting for DCAA-approved management of government contracts. Prior to joining Vista Photonics full-time, Melissa served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing at a local financial institution. With over 30 years of experience in office administration, personnel management, project coordination, marketing, and financial reporting, she brings a wealth of expertise to her role. As Chief Financial Officer of Vista Photonics, Melissa reports directly to the Company Board and also serves as its Secretary and Treasurer.
Zachary Pilgrim
Production Engineer
Zach earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from New Mexico State University. During his undergraduate studies, he completed a summer internship at NASA Johnson Space Center in the Toxicology and Environmental Chemistry Laboratory, where he contributed to the Air Quality Monitor (AQM) project. For his efforts preparing flight-critical hardware, Zach was honored with the NASA Outstanding Achievement Award. At NMSU, he also conducted research with the Eichman Research Group and the Foduazi Research Lab.
After graduating with honors, Zach worked for Dow Chemical as a Production Engineer in the Water Quality and Environmental Division.
At Vista Photonics, Zach plays a key role in assembly and calibration. He collaborates closely with Purchasing to guarantee that all parts and services meet contract specifications and regulatory requirements, including bonded materials. Additionally, Zach assists the Quality System Manager in maintaining compliance with our ISO 9001 and AS9100 certifications.
Valeria Porras
Associate Mechanical Engineer
Vale graduated with honors from the University of Texas, El Paso, earning a BS in Mechanical Engineering. As a Mechanical Design Engineer intern at Vinton Steel, she developed an innovative valve mounting design to reduce excessive shock and vibration. Additionally, during her internship at Schneider Electric, Vale contributed to designing switch boxes and preparing Bills of Materials (BOMs).
At Vista Photonics, Vale provides expert Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) design and support for our projects. She is responsible for creating and maintaining detailed engineering drawings, as well as designing custom tooling and fixtures. Additionally, she supports manufacturing process development, manages bills of materials, conducts materials research, performs dimensional inspections, oversees mechanical assembly, and assists with procurement activities.
William Wood
Chief Engineer
Bill Wood has been with Vista Photonics since 2005. He is an expert in circuit design, computer programming, and digital signal processing.
Bill holds a BS degree in Nuclear Engineering and has over 30 years of experience in analog and digital electronics development, programming, user interface development, and systems integration.
At Vista Photonics, Bill has engineered electronics for systems featuring multiple lasers, enabling precise and independent control of laser temperature and current. He has seamlessly integrated these analog circuits with digital processors for enhanced system control and data analysis. Additionally, Bill has developed automated gas control systems, encompassing hardware, software, and user interfaces, facilitating evaluation and calibration during the development of sensors at Vista Photonics.
Bailey Montaño
Support Specialist, ESD Facilities Monitor
Like many of our team members, Bailey wears multiple hats at Vista Photonics. She originally joined us to manage front desk administrative tasks. Over time, her versatility and dedication have expanded her role into that of operations support.
Bailey is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at New Mexico State University. Prior to Vista Photonics, she worked with a contractor at White Sands Missile Range that managed telecommunication throughout the site.
As our ESD Facility Monitor, Bailey holds ESD Level 1 certification and oversees our compliance to the current ANSI ESD standard, ANSI/ESD S20.20, and those required by the NASA Johnson Space Center Electrostatic Discharge Testing and Verification Office.
Bailey collaborates closely with the Quality System Manager to ensure all bonded materials are accurately recorded and monitored. Additionally, Bailey partners with the Chief Administrative Officer to manage purchasing, receiving, and contract compliance.
Isaac Monroy
Associate Computer Engineer
Isaac is a graduate of the University of Texas, El Paso, holding a BS in Electrical Engineering and an MS in Computer Engineering. During graduate school, he served as a research assistant at UTEP’s CyPSEC Laboratory, where he contributed to advancing the research and resilience of industrial protocols. Isaac also interned and later worked at Bessel.co, playing a key role in the development of innovative medical devices.
Isaac specializes in developing and testing embedded firmware for microcontroller-based sensor systems, with a focus on programming and debugging hardware interfaces.