Our Team

Ocean Exchange Volunteer Team

Donna Kocak

Fellow, L3 Harris Technologies

Donna Kocak has 34 years of experience in the ocean engineering field supporting scientific and engineering projects involving computer vision, optics, robotics and communications systems.

Donna is a Fellow at L3Harris Technologies and Past President and Fellow of the Marine Technology Society (MTS). Upon joining legacy Harris Corporation in 2008, Donna led the seafloor development of a cabled ocean observatory in the Mediterranean Ocean. Her prior R&D activities have been diverse, resulting in 4 US patents and over 80 publications including two book chapters. In addition, she founded her own firm, Green Sky Imaging LLC, specializing in software and processing services for undersea laser and video photogrammetry. Donna earned three Master’s degrees and serves as an Industry Advisor to three Florida Universities. In 2018, she proudly received the Harris “Building a Legacy Award” for demonstrating pride and accountability in developing the next generation of talent; and in 2019 she received the “MTS Outstanding Service Award” for serving in various leadership roles in MTS since joining in 1998. She is currently a Distinguished Lecturer for the IEEE Ocean Engineering Society.

Contact Us

Ocean Exchange invites you to learn more about Awards Program, our ecosystem and success of our award winners and participants. Together, we can chart a powerful course to help ensure the future of our oceans and the Blue Economy.

Testimonials

Participating in Ocean Exchange as an AUV subject matter expert was a meaningful way to share Anduril’s perspective on operational autonomy and AUV deployment. The event brought together diverse stakeholders focused on advancing practical, impact-driven maritime technologies, and provided a valuable platform for meaningful and inspiring discussions that delved into the complexities and opportunities spanning the full spectrum of ocean innovation.

 
Jessie Gray
Engineering Project Manager, Anduril

Ocean Exchange consistently brings together some of the most promising innovators in sustainability, and it’s been incredibly rewarding to support their work through the Solutions Review Team. Each year after attending the annual conference, I leave energized by the quality of ideas presented, the mission‑driven entrepreneurs involved, and the collaborative environment that drives meaningful progress for our oceans and The Blue Economy.

 
Rick Claar
Partner/President, The Martec Group

The Guy Harvey Foundation has been a proud partner with Ocean Exchange for the past few years as it provides a wonderful platform for innovations to be shared, meaningful networking to take place and overall supports the growth of the ocean economy and conservation efforts. We’ve been fortunate to provide awards for both collegiate and high school categories, participated on the judging panel and are inspired by the problem solving solutions presented by each candidate. If you want a good dose of inspiration, definitely look to supporting, attending or participating in the events!

 
Jessica Harvey
Chief Executive Officer, Guy Harvey Foundation

At Carollo Engineers, water is all we do—so we’re passionate about protecting our oceans. Attending the Ocean Exchange connected us with innovators advancing the blue economy, including those driving reuse and improving wastewater treatment and water quality. Events like this highlight how essential cross-sector collaboration is to solving global water challenges and creating a more sustainable future.

 
Dave Sobeck
Executive Vice President, Carollo Engineers

Being a voting delegate at Ocean Exchange reminded me why I do this work—watching students and industry leaders alike push the boundaries of what’s possible for ocean health and the blue economy. Deep thanks to Moffatt & Nichol for supporting our time and commitment.

 
Lynette Cardoch
Vice President Director, Resilience and Adaptation, Moffatt & Nichol