Aarnav Tale earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from George Mason University and is currently pursuing his Master’s in Computer Science at the University of Southern California. In 2021, he co-founded Chariz, an online e-commerce platform for developers to sell software, demonstrating his entrepreneurial drive and technical expertise. Outside of work, Aarnav enjoys rock climbing, traveling, and contributing to open-source projects.

Adam Syed is a data enthusiast with a passion for solving problems and uncovering insights. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Management Information Systems and a Master’s in Data Science, both from the University of Connecticut. During his time at UConn from 2020 to 2023, Adam worked as a data analyst and contact tracer, developing strong skills in data analysis and collaboration. He is currently pursuing AWS and Security+ certifications to enhance his technical expertise. Outside of work, Adam loves playing games of all kinds and is an avid soccer fan who enjoys both playing and watching the sport.

Adam Watters is a former Navy pilot and mission commander with extensive experience in traditional and special operations worldwide. He has managed R&D and operational intelligence projects for the U.S. Government, leading programs within NSW Development Group and INDOPACOM Innovation & Experimentation Division. His expertise spans the development and global deployment of autonomous systems to operationalizing compartmented intelligence in joint environments. Adam has also brought his leadership experience to private industry programs.

Alex Buck is a former Naval Aviator and Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor with degrees from the U.S. Naval Academy (B.S. in Aerospace Engineering) and MIT (M.S. in Aeronautics and Astronautics). He previously worked on Project Harbinger Air, developing processes for collecting operational acoustic data from MH-60R units, and has accumulated over 1,400 flight hours. Alex holds AWS Cloud Practitioner and CompTIA Security+ certifications and continues to fly in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Outside of work, he enjoys building things of all sorts, flying helicopters, and finding great sushi.

Austin Anderson builds intelligent systems that make sense of complex data. At Trevity, he led backend and AI development for a platform that helped customers work 30-50% more efficiently by streamlining data sources into actionable insights. At Booz Allen Hamilton, he contributed to NASA’s TEMPO mission, transforming satellite data into geospatial imagery. During his research at William & Mary, he helped build geoBoundaries, the world’s largest open-license geospatial database used by USAID and the UN. Austin graduated cum laude with a degree in Data Science. Outside of work, he enjoys rock climbing, endurance challenges (including marathons and an Ironman), and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.

Briant Higgins brings over two decades of experience in IT management and defense operations as a Joint Interface Control Officer (JICO) and JADC2 Development Lead, holding a TS/SCI clearance. He earned recognition as the 1st JSOAC Civilian of the Year in both 2022 and 2023 for his work integrating SOF tactics, techniques, and procedures with conventional and coalition partners. He holds an MBA in IT Business Management from the American Public University System and a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology from Southern Illinois University, both completed with honors.

Dr. Carl Kaiser earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering/Robotics from Colorado State University and previously managed the UUV portion of the National Deep Submergence Facility at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. His career includes significant roles at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center and Saildrone, where he specialized in sensor development and integration for unmanned surface vessels. Carl brings extensive experience in deep-water deployments and holds multiple patents in acoustics and undersea technology.

Cody Kilpatrick is a Full Stack Software Engineer with a unique background spanning military service and technology. A graduate of the General Assembly Software Engineering Immersive program, he brings discipline and experience honed over nine years as a Sonar Technician in the U.S. Navy, where he earned five Navy and Marine Corps Achievement awards. Since transitioning to tech, Cody has spent two years contributing to Department of Defense projects through advanced software engineering, including configuring AWS environments, orchestrating Kubernetes deployments, and designing data migration solutions for real-time processing. Outside of work, Cody enjoys spending time with his wife Sasha and their dog Sushi, anything that goes fast, video games, and hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains.

David Berquist developed a passion for technology early, teaching himself programming and building computers in elementary school. He graduated from SUNY at Buffalo with a degree in Computer Science, where he led robotics projects and served as president of the IEEE student chapter, more than doubling its membership through expanded workshops and events. Throughout his career, David has focused on automation and modernization to enhance productivity and software quality. At Assured Information Security, he pioneered automation solutions for testing virtualization systems. At Anaren, he enhanced a web-based IDE that enabled non-programmers to create integrated embedded code and smart devices. His work at Parsons included championing Docker and Ansible adoption for large-scale internet simulation, while at Microsoft he developed Azure government services and created an award-winning AI career training tool. Currently as a Modernization Engineer, he combines innovative technologies with mission-critical engineering to modernize U.S. nuclear submarine combat systems. Outside of work, David enjoys building IoT devices, exploring AI art and music generation, and spending time with his twin daughters.

David Gill is an experienced web developer and technology leader with a strong background in delivering high-quality software solutions for both large companies and startups. He enjoys collaborating with teams to drive innovation and create reliable, user-friendly applications. Outside of work, David loves skiing and fishing, which help him stay balanced and bring fresh energy to his professional life.

David Miller brings three years of experience modernizing Submarine Launch Ballistic Missile (SLBM) code and infrastructure from NSWC Dahlgren. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a Math minor from the University of Mary Washington and has experience writing mission-critical code in C++ and Java for the Navy. Outside of work, David enjoys rock climbing and long-distance running.

Dennis Torres graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University and began his career as a full-stack engineer working on diet and exercise applications for clients like Men’s Health. In 2015, he co-founded Blrrt, a real-time voice messaging platform with speech recognition, while simultaneously serving as technical lead at Silverstreet Technologies, a fintech platform for underbanked populations. Dennis later combined his expertise in full-stack engineering and natural language processing to develop machine learning models in the food and grocery domain, becoming an early adopter of Transformer models for translating human speech to machine code. Currently, he applies artificial intelligence to the maritime domain, working with large-scale acoustic datasets and acoustic object detection algorithms. Outside of work, Dennis enjoys listening to audiobooks, weight lifting, and spending time with his sons.

Eric Hansen brings 24 years of experience in acoustic analysis and ASW operations from his time in the U.S. Navy. He served in the ACINT Specialist Program for 16 years, spending over 1,000 days deployed, and culminated his career as the ACINT Specialist Program Manager. Eric holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership, a Master of Science in Strategic Leadership and Crisis Management from the University of Charleston, and PMP certification. Currently, he serves as Director of Acoustics, supporting acoustic analysis and product development efforts.

Erkan Akbulut brings nearly a decade of ethnographic research expertise and 7 years of UX leadership experience across major organizations including Johnson & Johnson and Anaconda. He previously founded and scaled a geospatial data analysis platform and served as Design Manager for blockchain initiatives. Erkan holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Visual Arts, Near Eastern Studies, and Linguistics and brings certifications in Scrum™ with UX and Enterprise Design Thinking, specializing in enterprise software solutions.

Fedor Orlov served 6.5 years in the Navy, including 2.5 years aboard the submarine USS Asheville and 1.5 years leading air and AUKUS initiatives in Project Harbinger. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Engineering in Robotics from the University of Maryland - College Park. Outside of work, Fedor enjoys hiking and training for triathlons.

Garrett Harvey earned his Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics from Stevenson University in 2021, graduating summa cum laude. After graduating, he joined a Developer Experience team where he built internal platforms, CI/CD pipelines, and resilient infrastructure to support engineering workflows. Outside of work, Garrett enjoys lifting weights, fishing, reading, and playing video games.

Ian Vaughn brings 15 years of experience in underwater robotic systems with expertise as lead software developer on the Yellow Moray UUV Torpedo Tube Launch & Recovery System. He has led interdisciplinary teams to develop autonomous navigation capabilities for confined underwater environments and spearheaded UUV software modernization efforts with the National Deep Submergence Facility. Ian holds a PhD in Ocean Engineering from the University of Rhode Island and a BS in Computer Science from Cornell University.

Jared Wilson graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania. His military experience includes serving as a submarine officer on the USS Connecticut from 2017 to 2020, where he developed expertise in naval operations and technical systems. He specializes in managing acoustic data pipelines and infrastructure.

Jeff Reilly is the Vice President of Services at Spear AI, leading the delivery of AI-driven maritime solutions and consultancy for national security. A U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and data scientist with an MBA from Georgetown University, he drove AI infrastructure strategies for defense applications on Project Maven and led AI integration for the Global Information Dominance Experiment at CDAO, enhancing integrated defense systems. Passionate about revolutionizing warfighting through artificial intelligence, Jeff spearheads Spear AI’s mission to empower defense clients with transformative technologies.

Jennifer Lewis is an Executive Administrator with over 25 years of experience in administration and organizational leadership. She specializes in office management, human resources, and financial management, providing crucial administrative support across organizations. Her career highlights include serving as Service Manager at Wells Fargo Bank, where she led the Highest Servicing Branch in Washington State in 2007 and 2008. Jennifer holds an Associate’s degree in Elementary Education from Daytona State College and has worked in office management since 2002. She is a retired Navy spouse of 27 years, mother of 4, and grandmother of 3. Outside of work, Jennifer enjoys attending sporting events, all things Disney, and caring for her family. She is the mother of a special needs child and volunteers at local events supporting Unified Programs.

John McGunnigle is President, CTO, and co-founder with over 30 years of experience in ASW operations with the U.S. Navy, including as a submarine Commanding Officer and Submarine Squadron Commodore. Captain (ret) McGunnigle holds a BS in Computer Science from the United States Naval Academy and an MS in Operations Research from the Naval Postgraduate School. As former Director of the Tactical Analysis Group at Undersea Warfighting Development Center, he led tactical development and advanced technical capability development for the U.S. Submarine Force. He also served as Director for Artificial Intelligence at UWDC, where he founded and led Project Harbinger, applying AI/ML to undersea acoustics across multiple sensors and platforms. Following his Navy career, John served as Director of Acoustics and Undersea Systems at Saildrone, leading acoustic system development for USVs.

Joseph Obeid holds degrees in Physics (Magna Cum Laude) and Mathematics (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was awarded the prestigious Levine Scholarship. After earning his M.S. in Applied Physics with honors, he transitioned to machine learning, leading projects in deep learning object detection and winning the 2022 HacktheMachine Unmanned competition. His current work focuses on developing generalized reinforcement learning tools and acoustic data pipeline management.

Kevin L. Zachow is a decorated U.S. Navy veteran with over 23 years of experience in mission-critical operations as an Acoustic Intelligence Subject Matter Expert. His military career culminated as a Master Chief at the Office of Naval Intelligence, where he deployed for 800 days supporting 18 submarines and managed the worldwide Acoustic Intelligence Specialist Program. Following military service, he transitioned to civilian defense contracting, securing contracts valued at over $250,000. Kevin holds a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and is pursuing an MBA expected in Fall 2025.

Lisi Skrien is a strategic communication professional and Liberty University graduate with experience as a Digital Content Producer at Northern News Now and internships at advertising agencies in Duluth. She has also coached at two university writing centers, bringing both creative and professional communication expertise. Lisi’s unique background includes experience as a magician’s assistant and as a figure skater and coach, where she became a USFSA Moves in the Field Gold Medalist.

Mandi Haase is a full-stack developer with nearly five years of experience building innovative and efficient web applications. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Relations with a minor in German from UC Davis and a Master’s in Education from the University of Phoenix. Mandi holds a certificate in Full Stack Development from BloomTech Institute of Technology and is a Registered Scrum Master™, having completed training developed by Dr. Jeff Sutherland, the co-creator of Scrum. Outside of work, Mandi enjoys reading, going to the gym, and exploring new technologies.

Matt Harlow is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Navy veteran who served as Main Propulsion Assistant and Quality Assurance Officer on the USS Mississippi from 2019 to 2021. Outside of work, Matt enjoys whitewater rafting and music festivals.

Megan Stokes is a business development and strategy professional with extensive experience supporting growth initiatives across government and commercial sectors. She brings deep expertise in proposal development and has led high-impact pursuits and cross-functional teams to deliver innovative, mission-aligned solutions. Megan holds advanced degrees in business and communication and currently supports the company’s efforts to expand strategic opportunities and deliver impactful, scalable technologies.

Michael Hunter is the co-founder and CEO with extensive experience as a Navy intelligence analyst, supporting SEAL Team Two in Baghdad and working with the Defense Intelligence Agency. He holds a BA in History and International Relations from Virginia Military Institute and an MA in National Security from Georgetown University. Michael’s career highlights include leading Navy projects for Project Maven and serving as a Technical Program Manager at Amazon Web Services.

Michael Pyne is a retired Navy submariner and Human Resources officer with a background in software development. An OCS graduate, he holds degrees from the University of North Florida (B.S. in Computer Science), the College of Charleston (M.S. in Computer Science), and the Naval War College (M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies). He previously supported Navy HR’s digital transformation efforts and served as a Digital Lead at NavalX, where he worked to foster innovation within the Department of the Navy.

Michelle Lamoureaux has over 15 years of experience in front-end development, with a focus on building beautiful, scalable, and accessible user interfaces and component libraries. She has worked across various companies from small startups to large corporations, including Linktree, Splunk, Atlantic Records, ServiceNow, and Apple. Outside of work, Michelle enjoys spending time with her daughter, reading, listening to music, and writing code.

Oscar Viquez earned his Sc.D. in Mechanical Engineering from MIT and brings experience in mechanical design and signal processing with a focus on ocean acoustics. He has worked on the development of embedded acoustics systems for industrial and scientific applications, including scalable acoustic arrays and data pipeline solutions for fisheries, marine domain awareness, and environmental monitoring. Oscar’s work also includes autonomous underwater vehicle deployments in the Arctic Ocean and developing frameworks to inform autonomous vehicle behavior.

Rabea Ahmad is a fullstack software engineer with extensive experience developing secure, scalable web and mobile applications. With expertise in technologies such as TypeScript, React, Node.js, Spring Boot, and AWS, he excels at creating high-performance solutions for large-scale systems. Rabea has led the development of features supporting thousands of users, optimized cloud infrastructure to drive cost reductions, and collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver reliable software.

Rory Keefer earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Grand Valley State University. He served in the Marine Corps specializing in aviation command and control, receiving qualifications as a Tactical Air Director and Air Support Element OIC. He now works in support of CDAO’s Global Information Dominance Experiment, improving DoD planning systems and processes that enable warfighters to deliver data informed options that enhance global awareness and integration.

Thomas Seaver holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the Georgia Institute of Technology, specializing in media computing and systems architecture. He spent two years at IBM’s Weather team developing business-to-business software solutions and integrating complex systems. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring new technologies through hands-on projects, running, watching movies, and spending time with his black cat, June.

Tulsa Scott is a program manager with 9 years of experience who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nuclear Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and was commissioned as a naval officer in 2016. He served 3.5 years aboard the submarine USS Georgia, achieving the position of assistant engineer, and was the lead submarine action officer in the Naval AI/ML initiative, Project Harbinger, for 2 years. After 8 years of military service, Tulsa transitioned to program management, where his current role includes managing several petabytes of data, algorithm development and deployment across U.S. naval platforms, and creating training for forward operators.