The Power of Our Community

Every day across MTS, members are advancing marine technology in ways that are practical, creative, and driven by a shared commitment to collaboration. As we step back and recognize all our members have accomplished this year, a clear picture emerges: this community is not only busy, it is building the future of our field – one partnership, one workshop, one event, and one student at a time. 

That became especially evident during a recent meeting of the MTS Council, where a series of updates from across our Sections and Committees revealed just how much momentum our volunteers have generated this year. While I’d heard about many of the successes and initiatives before in one form or another, experiencing them collectively offered a striking reminder of just how broad and interconnected our members’ work has become. 

In Oregon, for example, the Section is harnessing new energy alongside the launch of the Center for Marine Technology at Oregon State University, putting partnership and community-building at the forefront. The Section will be helping to coordinate MATE ROV Academy teacher workshops in early 2026 and supporting a blue economy workforce development conference next spring. Their work shows how local leadership can shape both regional opportunity and national conversation. 

The Offshore Renewable Energy Committee continues to model how partnership becomes real impact. Their recent TechSurge on Fisheries and Benthic Monitoring brought together scientists, state and federal agencies, companies, students, and regional collaborators: Rhode Island Sea Grant, the University of Rhode Island, the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA), and the Northeast Regional Ocean Council (NROC). The committee even “flipped” the traditional meeting model – pre-recorded talks, live dialogue – to maximize discussion. It was a powerful example of how MTS Committees can serve as trusted conveners and forums for forward momentum. 

The eDNA Committee, in turn, demonstrated what it looks like to turn innovation into application. Through participation in the recent NOPP Ocean Life Forum, engagement at Oceans in Action, and a quarterly seminar growing in participation, the Committee serves as a central convening point for the eDNA community, highlighting how cutting-edge biodiversity techniques can be applied by operators, regulators, and researchers.

Across the world, the Submarine Committee stepped into a uniquely influential role this year. Their first international symposium in Tenerife brought together operators, manufacturers, regulators, and Coast Guard authorities at a pivotal moment for the sector. In the wake of heightened global attention, the Committee is helping shape harmonized safety and operational frameworks – challenging work that will ultimately reduce risk across the sector and strengthen the integrity of the industry. 

Region by region, members are doing extraordinary things. The Buoy Technology Committee is preparing for its biannual in St. Petersburg, continuing a tradition of bringing Navy units, state agencies, academics, and industry into the same room. Oceans in Action remains a rare and valuable cross-sector gathering along the Gulf Coast. The Great Lakes Section moves into another year of Lakebed 2030, deepening ties with the startup community. Monterey Bay continues its leadership with the regional MATE competition and is exploring new cross-Committee collaborations. Houston, as always, sets the standard for scholarship fundraising – ensuring the next generation has access and opportunity. 

Taken together, these stories reflect a pattern: MTS thrives because our members lead with curiosity, generosity, and determination. On behalf of the MTS Board of Directors, I offer my gratitude to each and every one of you. Your work is not peripheral to MTS – it is MTS. The collaborations you forge, the students you support, and the regional connections you nurture define who we are today and who we will become tomorrow. 

If this is what our community achieved this year, I cannot wait to see what the next one brings. Keep going – and reach out if we can help support your journey. 

Susan Hunt | MTS President