Vice President of Research, Industry, & Technology - Dr. Fritz Stahr

Dr. Fritz Stahr is the Chief Technology Officer at Open Ocean Robotics in Victoria, BC, where he focuses on producing and improving the company’s uncrewed surface vehicles for persistent and sustainable ocean observations. Prior to that he was Vice President and CTO at MRV Systems in Seattle, a leading manufacturer of underwater robotics for academic and defense customers. In 2005, he established the Seaglider® Fabrication Center at the University of Washington’s School of Oceanography and directed it through 2018 providing buoyancy-driven 1000m-rated underwater gliders to customers worldwide, including the U.S. Navy. While there, he helped develop and manufacture the 6000m-rated Deepglider™ and his ongoing efforts at UW include training students in the Ocean Technology program. Dr. Stahr also volunteers for various education and outreach programs such as the MTS-MATE Remote Operated Vehicle Competition and he co-founded the Ocean Inquiry Project, a non-profit dedicated to teaching marine science through at-sea experience. He joined the Marine Technology Society in 1998 after earning a Ph.D. in Oceanography at UW and chaired the MTS/IEEE OCEANS-2019 Seattle conference. His experience includes a decade at instrument companies in California after receiving his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Indicate one or two key goals that you hope to accomplish in this position over the next 3 years:
As the VP of Industry, Research, and Technology at MTS, my main goal is to make MTS the ‘go to’ professional society for both professionals as well as academics, and all those in between that make this field successful. I believe inclusivity at all career stages is key to success, and fostering such through the wide variety of MTS technical committees is valuable. Another goal is to help create the next generation of marine technologists by working closely with the Early Career Ocean Professionals VP and committee. Moving those who join us in their formative career stages into experienced, mid-career committee members is key to the society’s longevity. And finally, providing technical expertise to agencies and policy makers through MTS committee members in conjunction with the VP of Government and Public Affairs is another goal as part of my service to the one ocean we all share. 

Discuss the qualities and experience you possess that make you a strong candidate for the position for which you are running:
My experience spans a wide range of organizations from industry to academia to non-profits so I understand the various limitations each type exists within. Further, one of my qualities is to keep an open mind to suggestions for improvements, process changes, and overall issues within, as well as outside, the society. For MTS to continue to serve its members as well as society in general, being able to consider all sides of an argument is valuable and something I strive to do constantly. Engagement at all levels is not always easy, but it is worthwhile, as is providing the best possible service to the widest possible audience. I believe MTS brings value to all those it engages and I seek to continue that organizational quality.