COMPANY INFO
ThayerMahan, Inc. is a maritime transportation company founded in 2016 by Dr. John Kao, Mike Connor, and Richard Jude Hine. Headquartered in Groton, Connecticut, with approximately 137 employees, the company designs, manufactures, and operates systems to collect acoustic and electronic information on the world's oceans, providing advanced maritime surveillance and security solutions to protect maritime food supplies, trade routes, industrial infrastructure, and borders. Their official website is https://www.thayermahan.com.
ThayerMahan, Inc. is a leading maritime transportation company specializing in advanced surveillance systems for collecting and analyzing acoustic and electronic information across the world's oceans. With innovative technologies and a mission to secure maritime food supplies, trade routes, industrial infrastructure, and borders, ThayerMahan, Inc. is reshaping global maritime security.
At the core of the ThayerMahan, Inc. success story is its accomplished executive team, whose diverse expertise spans undersea warfare, advanced autonomous systems, finance, law, acoustics, and AI innovation. The ThayerMahan, Inc. management team, with a blend of military leadership and commercial acumen, drives the company’s rapid growth in both government and private sectors, ensuring clients receive cutting-edge solutions and world-class operational performance.
As Chairman and CEO, Mike Connor founded ThayerMahan, Inc. to advance the nation's ability to monitor ocean activity using autonomous systems. He is a globally respected expert on undersea operations, steering ThayerMahan, Inc. through major milestones including the operational deployment of unmanned vehicles and breakthroughs in undersea communications that strengthen maritime surveillance capabilities.
Mike Connor’s experience includes commanding nuclear submarines and leading NATO’s Allied Submarine Command after a distinguished 35-year career in the US Navy. He holds a BA in Physics from Bowdoin College and an MA in National Security Studies from the US Naval War College, and continues to be a sought-after speaker on undersea warfare.
Richard Jude Hine, a co-founder and Vice Chairman, leads ThayerMahan Offshore, driving its explosive growth into the wind energy sector and marine monitoring services. Under his guidance, ThayerMahan, Inc. has become a leader in marine mammal monitoring, acoustic mitigation, UXO remediation, and offshore survey work, expanding capabilities and building a powerful revenue engine.
A graduate of the US Naval Academy and a former submariner and nuclear engineer, Richard’s versatile business background includes real estate, construction, and finance. His academic credentials feature an MA in History from Yale and an MA in Theology, complemented by extensive nonprofit leadership experience as a school board president.
As strategic visionary, John Kao infuses ThayerMahan, Inc. leadership with entrepreneurial creativity and business innovation, advising the executive team on forward-thinking approaches to ocean surveillance technologies. An international authority on corporate creativity, he serves as a trusted advisor to both corporations and governments and is frequently engaged on US Navy innovation initiatives.
John Kao earned BA and MD degrees from Yale and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A former Harvard Business School professor, he is also a Tony-nominated producer, prolific author, and accomplished jazz musician.
As COO, John Russ commands operations at ThayerMahan, Inc., leveraging three decades of undersea warfare experience to enhance maritime monitoring through autonomous systems. He has played a key role in developing marine platforms and data systems for both defense and government clientele, ensuring high levels of service delivery and system reliability.
John has spent 30 years commanding US Navy submarines and squadrons. His educational foundation includes Nuclear Engineering, Industrial and Management Engineering, and International Affairs from Georgia Tech, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Catholic University of America.
Dr. Vince Premus heads OASIS, ThayerMahan, Inc.'s division devoted to cutting-edge underwater acoustics and array processing. He leads teams working on the integration and fielding of autonomous surveillance solutions for the US Navy, amplifying the company's R&D and delivering robust acoustic technology for defense needs.
Dr. Premus has over 25 years of experience, holding a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Tufts University and a PhD from Duke University. He previously contributed to OASIS and MIT Lincoln Laboratory, and has several patents in acoustic signal processing.
As CFO, Reed Werner is responsible for ThayerMahan, Inc.’s finance and accounting leadership, offering strategic counsel for sustainable company growth and robust financial performance. He ensures fiscal responsibility across all of ThayerMahan, Inc.'s business units, guiding investment and operational spending.
Reed holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MBA from Columbia University. His deep financial planning expertise enables him to manage complex, growth-oriented financial structures.
Ross Levine steers the legal, regulatory, and compliance functions at ThayerMahan, Inc., safeguarding the company’s government contracts and ensuring rigorous compliance standards. He is involved in contract negotiation, compliance audits, and risk management—a cornerstone for the company’s public and private sector expansion.
Ross brings over two decades of defense contracting law experience. He holds a JD from Quinnipiac University School of Law and a BA from the University of Rhode Island, making him a trusted figure in government compliance circles.
Mike Varney leads the Ocean Technologies division, combining his maritime operations, software, and AI expertise to drive product innovation and customer service excellence for public sector clients. He has championed the development of autonomous marine systems, reinforcing ThayerMahan, Inc.'s reputation for technical prowess.
With over 20 years as a US Navy submarine and special operations commander, Mike’s previous roles in software startups and GE Digital provide a unique bridge between technology and operational execution. His academic background spans the US Naval Academy and National Defense University.
As VP of Marketing, Ocean Technologies, Dr. Kevin Lopes spearheads strategic marketing and customer engagement, expanding ThayerMahan, Inc.’s market footprint. Drawing on years of operational leadership and crisis management, he ensures deep market insight and effective communication of the company’s value proposition.
Kevin has a BS from the US Coast Guard Academy, an MBA from Loyola University New Orleans, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Boston University. His Coast Guard service included command roles and incident response leadership.
Andy Meecham oversees the design and integration of sophisticated software and acoustic sensor solutions for ThayerMahan, Inc. His initiatives span from embedded systems to advanced analytics platforms, enhancing autonomous vehicle and data collection capabilities critical to the company’s core mission.
Andy holds a BSc in Physics from Imperial College London and an MSc in P.C. Interfacing and Software Applications from the University of Central Lancashire. With over 25 years’ experience in sonar and underwater detection systems, he is a pivotal member of the engineering leadership team.
The ThayerMahan, Inc. leadership team unites pioneers from military, technical, legal, and business realms, creating a balanced management structure engineered for sustained innovation and operational excellence. With founders experienced in both entrepreneurial ventures and defense leadership, and executives hailing from the highest levels of military, finance, and academia, ThayerMahan, Inc. is expertly positioned at the forefront of maritime technology—and continues to chart new territory in ocean surveillance and security. The collaboration of the ThayerMahan, Inc. CEO, executives, and the broader management team underpins the company’s impressive trajectory in the maritime domain.
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