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MTS FELLOWDesignation as a Marine Technology Society Fellow is one of the highest accolades a member can achieve. Since 1975, this title has been awarded to MTS Members who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the Society's objectives and who has distinguished accomplishments and experience in their professional fields. 2025 RECIPIENT - ALEKS KARLSENDriven by a deep passion for maritime safety, Aleks specializes in dynamic positioning (DP) systems and the safe integration of emerging technologies. With a strong belief in the power of collaboration, he has played a pivotal role and worked closely with key industry players to shape and develop international standards that promote safer and more sustainable maritime operations. As an active member of the MTS DP Committee, he contributes his expertise to advancing best practices and guidance that support the global DP community. Aleks’s work focuses on bridging innovation and responsibility—ensuring that new technologies not only enhance operational safety but also contribute to reducing the environmental footprint of marine and offshore activities. His mission: to help the maritime industry evolve safely and sustainably. 2025 RECIPIENT - JUSTIN MANLEYJustin Manley is an innovative technologist and executive with experience in startup, public corporation, academic, and public sectors. Mr. Manley has been working with marine technology and robotics since 1990 and is a recognized leader in uncrewed systems development and operations. After professional roles at MIT, supporting NOAA and in the private sector Mr. Manley founded Just Innovation Inc. in 2015. He supports diverse clients with a focus on robotics and ocean tech. Mr. Manley is a Senior Advisor to Oceankind and Venture Partner at AiiM Partners where he works to advance innovations for ocean conservation and commercial returns. He is an advisor to numerous ocean tech startups, and a co-founder of Seahawk Robotics which is commercializing patented drones for ocean operations. Mr. Manley is extensively involved in the marine technology profession through a variety of leadership roles. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a Life Member and Past-President of the Marine Technology Society (MTS), and a Fellow of the Institute for Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMAREST). Mr. Manley was a founding member of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Advisory Committee, currently a member of NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Advisory Board, and Co-chair of the UN Ocean Decade Technology and Innovation Working Group. In 2025 he was appointed to the Ocean Studies Board of The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. He holds two patents in uncrewed systems oversight and security. 2025 RECIPIENT - STEVEN A. RUBERGSteve Ruberg is a research physical scientist and engineer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory. In addition to leading the lab’s Real-time Coastal Observation Network project, Steve’s focus is on obtaining winter, under-ice ecosystem observations using real-time cabled systems and autonomous vehicles. Steve also deploys remotely operated vehicles to understand the ecosystem impact of Great Lakes submerged groundwater sources. Steve has long been a contributor to the MTS Great Lakes Section with significant contributions to the Lakebed 2030 TechSurge conference that was launched in 2019 at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, Michigan. Steve has participated in every Lakebed 2030 since this inaugural event and has been a catalyst for engaging and recruiting new conference attendees and presenters. OTHER MTS FELLOWS
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