Sea Machines Hired VP to Scale Autonomous Fleet Production
The company created a new program management department to transition from innovation testing to full-scale autonomous vessel builds.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Robotics
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Sea Machines Robotics has hired Courtney Bradbury as its Vice President of Program Management. The move establishes a new department focused on shifting the company from research-based innovation markets to the delivery of budgeted, full-scale autonomous fleet programs.
Why it matters
As marine autonomy moves from experimental pilot testing to long-term government and commercial adoption, the industry is recalibrating toward structured shipbuilding and supply chain management. This transition signals that firms are moving to prioritize delivery at scale over pure research development.
Sea Machines was one of six firms to complete a US Navy marine autonomy test demonstration in September 2026. The new program management office will standardize internal workflows using advanced shipbuilding techniques, supply chain management, and programmatic-level oversight.
The players
Sea Machines Robotics
A developer of autonomous vessel control systems and remote command technology for the marine industry.
Courtney Bradbury
The new Vice President of Program Management who brings extensive maritime engineering and operational experience to the company.
The details
The new department, led by Bradbury, will integrate project-focused personnel, naval engineers, and construction management specialists to execute full-scale vessel builds. This process replaces ad-hoc research workflows with standardized shipbuilding methodologies. Bradbury, who holds a Professional Engineer license in Washington State and an Unlimited Tonnage Mate's License, will oversee the transition to a formal, budget-driven production model.
Timeline
September 2026: Sea Machines completed a US Navy autonomy test demonstration.
October 2026: Courtney Bradbury was hired as Vice President of Program Management.
The Tech Race
The transition to formal fleet program management follows Sea Machines' participation in the US Navy marine autonomy test demonstration. This pivot aligns the company with broader industry trends toward integrating autonomous control stacks into existing commercial and military maritime supply chains.
The move toward full-scale fleet production changes how Seattle-based marine and naval engineers interface with autonomous shipbuilding projects. As these programs scale, local construction management specialists will likely see an increase in project-focused opportunities within the firm.
The takeaway
The appointment marks a transition from experimental marine autonomy to full-scale, budgeted production. Watch for future announcements regarding specific contract delivery timelines and fleet expansion milestones following the company's recent US Navy test completion.
Further reading
For more on how firms are industrializing autonomous maritime systems, see our latest coverage in Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Maritime Executive.
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