Deep Leadership.

Combining operational expertise and external perspectives to inform strategic decision making.

Leadership Team.

The Leadership Team oversees day-to-day operations, executes strategic initiatives, and guides the organisation to deliver its goals.

Kristen Tertoole
Chief Executive Officer

Kristen brings extensive leadership experience to DEEP. Prior to joining, she was Chief Executive Officer of a successful technology group, having previously held roles including Chief Product Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and Director of Marketing.

Ethan Butler
Chief Product Officer

Ethan has 25+ years of experience executing commercial and government development programs for products in and around the ocean. Prior to joining DEEP, he was Vice President of engineering and operations at a US-based marine energy company.

Sean Wolpert
President

Sean brings extensive commercial and investment experience to DEEP. Prior to joining, he was Chief Investment Officer at a private investment office, having held various senior roles at Rubicon Fund Management and Citigroup.

Mike Shackleford
Chief Operating Officer

Mike is an experienced leader in technology, operations, and program management. He was Chief Technology Officer at a major technology group and has held a variety of leadership positions, spanning startups to large organisations.

Norman Smith
Chief Technology Officer

Norman brings 30+ years of experience launching complex technology products to DEEP. Primarily these were for manned space flights with NASA and deep-water robotically installed equipment for Oceaneering International.

David Brooks
Managing Director, Deep Institute

David has 25+ years of leadership experience across a broad range of commercial and operational roles. He has a strong pedigree in scaling quality standards in high-risk environments and in the development of exceptional training.

Subject Matter Experts.

Solving complex problems, informing designs and decision-making, acting as catalysts to develop innovative technologies.

Dr. Dawn Kernagis
DIRECTOR OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Dawn is a leading scientist and diver, whose research has been funded by multiple US Department of Defense agencies. She was one of six crew members to live and work undersea as part of NASA’s 21st underwater mission, NEEMO.

Phil Short
Research Diving and Training Lead

Phil has worked in diving for decades and brings a wealth of technical experience to DEEP. As a highly accredited training director and underwater researcher, he is focused on delivering equipment and methods to support subsea habitation.

Strategic Advisory Council.

DEEP’s Strategic Advisors provide expert counsel, insights, and strategic direction to guide long-term planning.

Rob McCallum
Strategic Advisory Council

Rob’s expertise in deep-water submersible operations is unparalleled, having led expeditions in some of the world’s most remote and hostile environments. He has planned, managed and led expeditions to the deepest point in all five oceans.

Dr. Kathy Sullivan
STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Kathy is a highly experienced geologist, oceanographer, former NASA astronaut and US Navy Officer. She has made history in space and sea, as the first US woman to complete a spacewalk and to travel to the lowest known point in the ocean.

Dr. Michael Lang
STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Michael is on the DAN Board of Directors and is committed to diver safety. He is a marine biologist and co-director of the San Diego Center of Excellence in Diving. He has dedicated his career to scientific diving and research.

Professor Steve Davies
STRATEGIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

Steve had a long tenure as Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. An active academic, he also joined the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and founded several successful chemistry companies.

Join Our Team