Justin Manley Biography

Justin Manley is an innovative technologist and executive with experience in startup, public corporation, academic, and public sectors. He is a recognized leader in unmanned systems development and operations. Mr. Manley is a collegial professional and skilled technology leader with exceptional communication skills and a history of delivering positive results. He is a natural evangalist for new technologies and inspired to advance new businesses and technologies in unmanned and maritime markets.

Mr. Manley has been working with marine and unmanned technology since 1990. Working for his family’s business, Chicago Marine Towing, Inc., he helped expand company towing and salvage operations, on Lake Michigan. Between 1994 and 2002 he was a principal in the development of marine robots at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Between 2002 and 2009 Mr. Manley provided marine technology consulting services, primarily to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and its Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (OER).  He was the founding Chair of the NOAA-wide AUV Working Group and led that team as it increased awareness and application of AUVs in the agency.

In 2009 Mr. Manley transitioned to the private sector, joining Liquid Robotics during its startup phase. There he was responsible for developing new commercial and scientific business based around a patented energy harvesting unmanned vehicle, the Wave Glider. At Liquid Robotics he opened new markets, grew sales and established key partnerships including with oil services multi-national Schlumberger. He also led the development of the market message, including winning a Wall Street Journal Innovation Award.

Between 2011 and 2015 Mr. Manley was Senior Director of Business Development at Teledyne Marine Systems. He was responsible for managing and advancing sales at Teledyne Benthos, which encompassed a diverse portfolio of undersea infrastructure, sensors and vehicles. He also led the development of a networked systems strategy for Teledyne Marine Systems, a consolidated business unit including Benthos, Webb Research, Gavia, and SeaBotix. Mr. Manley also provided strategic leadership for the sales and marketing and M&A activities of Teledyne Marine Systems.

In mid-2015 Mr. Manley returned to entrepreneurial endeavors, assisting another marine technology startup, Juliet Marine Systems, with a go-to market strategy. He then founded Just Innovation, a consultancy focused on technology, business, and policy in the unmanned and undersea systems sectors. The firm advises diverse clients including startups, corporations, investors, and the public sector.

Mr. Manley is a Senior Member of IEEE and supports the technical activities of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES). He has served as membership secretary of ASTM Committee F41, developing technical standards for Unmanned Maritime Vehicles.  Mr. Manley has served as the Chair of the UMV Committee for the Marine Technology Society (MTS) as well as the Editor of the MTS Journal. He was the Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for MTS from 2009-2016 and is now a Life Member. Mr. Manley was a founding member of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Advisory Committeewhere he served from 2012-2018. In 2017 he was awarded the rank of Fellow with the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology. 

Mr. Manley is dedicated to innovation, serving as an advisor to startup companies and a judge for the Wendy Schmidt Ocean Health XPRIZE.He recently concluded judging the Barbara Bush Foundation Adult Literacy XPRIZE.

Education
Bachelor of Science, History: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science, Ocean Engineering: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master of Science, Ocean Engineering: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Executive Certificate, Strategy and Innovation: MIT Sloan School of Business