ADRIENNE COPELAND 

Adrienne Copeland is the Senior Manager within the Ocean Enterprise Initiative at the Marine Technology Society, focusing on growing the ocean intelligence platform BlueConneX and organizing industry convenings to advance marine technology and collaborative program design. 

Adrienne is an ocean scientist and manager with over 13 years of experience leading and supporting program management and marine research. Over the course of her career at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), she was an ecosystem acoustic researcher responsible for the calibration, maintenance and data collection and processing of fisheries acoustic data; served as the acting Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program Manager, where she oversaw national initiatives and coordinated complex inter-agency research efforts; was the Program Manager for the NOAA Ocean Exploration competitive grant program funding ocean and maritime heritage exploration and research and the advancement of novel deep-sea technology; and the acting Branch Chief for the Pacific Operations Branch responsible for maintenance of the tidal and currents measurement stations through the Pacific Ocean region. Throughout her tenure, Adrienne has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in fiscal and grants management, directing multi-million dollar portfolios.

Her technical expertise spans biological acoustics as a member of the ICES Working Group on Fisheries Acoustics, Science and Technology (WGFAST), water column exploration, and the application of advanced technologies, including autonomous underwater vehicles and remotely operated vehicles. Beyond her technical contributions, she is a skilled communicator who has been featured in television, podcasts, and publications, as well as a community builder who has co-organized events of various sizes, including national forums, and managed stakeholder engagement. Adrienne holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Zoology (Marine Biology) from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and a B.S. in Biology from Washington State University. She is dedicated to fostering resilient oceans through cross-sector partnerships, innovative data management, and the mentorship of the next generation of marine scientists.