Luna Innovations Inc. taps new COO

Roanoke-based Luna Innovations Inc. has named Brian J. Soller its new chief operating officer, effective immediately. He was previously senior vice president and general manager of Lightwave, Luna’s largest division.

The fiber optic tech company, which manufactures products for the aerospace, automotive, communications, defense, energy, infrastructure, security and silicon photonics industries, announced Soller’s appointment Wednesday, noting that he will lead the development and implementation of Luna’s strategic plan. In Soller’s previous position, he oversaw Lightwave’s product strategy and development, sales, marketing and manufacturing, and co-developed instrumentation for Luna’s fiber optic devices.

Soller holds multiple patents in optics and received degrees in mathematics and physics from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the University of Rochester’s Institute of Optics.

“Brian is a well-recognized and respected thought leader within the fiber optic world,” Scott Graeff, president and CEO of Luna Innovations, said in a statement. “I have had the pleasure of working with Brian closely for nearly 20 years, and his guidance, experience and leadership have been instrumental to Luna’s growth. With a strong strategic mindset and vision, combined with a sharp focus on operational excellence, he is uniquely qualified to drive strategic prioritization and accountability within the company.”

Luna Innovations was founded in 1991 by a Virginia Tech electrical engineering professor, and it moved its headquarters to Roanoke in 2006 but still maintains operations in Blacksburg and Charlottesville, as well as in Michigan, California and Georgia.