MARK OTERO | Data Operations

Mark leads data operations and IT at CORDC, supporting national and global programs including the U.S. HF-radar network and GPS-based wave buoy deployments. Over two decades, he has developed real-time data systems for operational and research use, with a focus on in situ and remote sensing datasets. He holds a bachelor’s in biochemistry and marine science from the University of San Diego and a master’s in marine science from UC Santa Barbara.

PETER ROGOWSKI, PHD | Project Management

Peter is the lead program manager for CORDC and holds a PhD in ocean engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology. His work focuses on leveraging emerging technologies to study the upper ocean and marine atmospheric boundary layer, as well as using unmanned underwater vehicles in freshwater reservoirs for water reclamation research.

KURT SADORF | Navy Liason

Kurt received a BA in aeronautical engineering at Purdue University and an MA in mechanical engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He has a license in PE in mechanical engineering (California), a 1600 ton Master's license (open ocean), and a pilot license (glider and fix wing). Kurt is a retired naval submarine officer and government services employee with a background in deep submergence and undersea special operations forces systems, is currently managing the Coastal Surveillance System in Palau, and is acting as a DoD liaison.

SIENNA THOMAS | Administrative Officer

Sienna received a degree in Cognitive Science from UC San Diego and serves as Administrative Officer at CORDC, overseeing operations, logistics, facilities, and events. Outside of work, she enjoys sewing and spending time at the dog park with her Tijuana street dog, Junie B. Jones.

MARK ANDERSON, PHD | Guidance, Navigation, and Control

Mark specializes in vehicle dynamics, navigation, and control. He has provided support for several CORDC projects involving the development of new capabilities for autonomous surface and underwater vehicles. Dr. Anderson also serves as an Associate Teaching Professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Department at UC San Diego. His PhD degree is from Purdue University's Aeronautics and Astronautics Engineering Department. 

ANDREW PIETRUSZKA, PHD | Underwater Archaeology

Drew is an underwater archeologist specializing in the search and recovery of U.S. service members missing in action as a result of our nation’s previous conflicts. He has over 19 years of experience conducting underwater archaeological research around the world. Dr. Pietruszka has served four years as a lead archaeologist specializing in underwater recovery operations and managing the Innovation Testbed at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). He  serves as a co-Principal Investigator for Project Recover—an effort to enlist 21st century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action since World War II. Project Recover has located over 50 aircraft associated with more than 80 MIA and 14 U.S. MIA have been returned to their families as a result of these efforts. 

RYAN MCCARTHY, PHD | Machine Learning & Acoustics

Ryan received a dual B.A. in engineering physics and Scandinavian studies from Augustana College and a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from The University of Iowa. His research interests include coupling physics-based sound propagation to varying oceanographic processes and implementing machine learning to develop reduced order models for sound propagation as well as developing and deploying models for improved communications onboard unmanned underwater vehicles.

JOHN LODISE, PHD | Surface Waves & Meteorology

John received his PhD in meteorology and physical oceanography from the University of Miami. Currently, he is researching wave conditions produced under extreme storm conditions, mainly targeting tropical and extratropical cyclones. Under these intense storm conditions, he is comparing wave observations from different instruments (satellites, wave buoys, etc.) to operational wave models to determine the accuracy of the models and help inform future wave predictions.

JIT SARKAR, PHD | Underwater Acoustics

Jit Sarkar received his B.Sc. degree from the University of Virginia, with a focus on computer science, computer engineering and astronomy. He went on to continue his studies at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, receiving both M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees for his research in ocean acoustics. Dr. Sarkar has remained with the Marine Physical Laboratory since completing his thesis, first as a post-doc, then assistant project scientist, and currently as a R&D engineer and lab manager. His 20 year career has so far spanned a diverse range of subjects, from radio-astronomy, ocean acoustic tomography and marine-mammal monitoring, to structural-health instrumentation and clinical epilepsy research – Dr Sarkar has found his experience in numerical-modeling, signal-processing and data-analysis to be applicable to a broad array of topics. His current interests lie in applied acoustics for challenging environments, with a focus on high performance computing, data visualization methods and sensor development.

PAT WELCH, PHD | Collaborator at Oregon State University

Pat is a physicist currently focused on the study of energetic marine environments, including phenomena such as topographic wakes. He earned a Ph.D. in physics from the University of Virginia and an M.S. in mathematics from George Washington University. As a research collaborator, he supports some of CORDC's observational and analytical projects, contributing his multidisciplinary expertise. His diverse background spans particle physics, autonomous underwater systems, computational algorithms, applied mathematics, and quantitative finance. Outside of academia, he is also an accomplished whitewater kayaker.

ANDY NAGER | Senior R&D Engineer | Robotics

Andy is an oceanographic engineer with over 15 years of experience in designing sensor payloads and operating autonomous platforms worldwide. He concentrated in engineering and geophysics at Brown University. His technical expertise spans autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), autonomous surface vessels (ASVs), remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), sonars, acoustic communication systems, and diver interfaces. Catch him biking to work with his kid in tow!

SEAN MCPEAK | Senior R&D Engineer | Electrical Engineering

Sean's background and focus are in embedded systems development for sensor integration and motion controls on a mixture of autonomous vehicle platforms and science instrumentation. Sean graduated from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, and currently leads the electronics lab at CORDC. He enjoys swimming, surfing and gardening in his free time.

SEAN CELONA | R&D Engineer | Radar

Sean studied physics at UC San Diego and joined CORDC through the MPL summer internship program. He specializes in remote sensing, with a focus on X-band radar. He also works on data analysis for the wide range of datasets collected by CORDC.

JACOB SPRINGMAN | R&D Engineer | Mechanical Engineering & Robotics

Jacob is an R&D engineer at CORDC with a focus on autonomous vehicles. He discovered the field of marine robotics while studying mechanical engineering at UC San Diego, and is now interested in advancing marine technology through sensor integration and other augmentation of autonomous systems. He also helps support CORDC's scientific endeavors, assisting in field research trips overseas.

KATRINA GOLDSMITH | R&D Engineer | Embedded Software

Katrina received her B.A. in mathematics/computer science from UC San Diego. She spent 13 years as a Software Engineer with Qualcomm before taking a hiatus to raise her two children. At CORDC, Katrina maintains firmware and provides operations and data management support for the mini-wavebuoy, MET weather station, and METOC combined wave and weather reporting platforms. She lives in Cardiff with her husband Chris.

JACK DONOHOE | R&D Engineer | Mechanical Engineering & Robotics

Jack works primarily with autonomous underwater vehicles. His main areas of work are sensor integration, mechanical design, and field research. He received a B.S is mechanical engineering with a specialization in controls and robotics from UC San Diego in 2023.

DYLAN KRIEGMAN | R&D Engineer | Software & Robotics

Dylan develops autonomy algorithms for subsurface and surface robots. He earned a B.S. in computer science from the University of Colorado Boulder, with prior studies in mechanical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. His background includes expertise in underwater imaging, soft robotics, and autonomy from internships and research at CMU, UC San Diego, and CU Boulder. He contributed to DARPA’s Subterranean Challenge, Project Recover’s Gulf of Tonkin surveys, and co-authored a paper on wide-area AUV imaging presented at IEEE Oceans 2025. Outside the lab, when not debugging code, Dylan might be found backpacking through mountain trails, bobbing on a surfboard, or behind his laptop studying the latest in world events and history.

JORGE CORTEZ | R&D Engineer | Electrical Engineering

Jorge earned a Bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the UC Santa Cruz. During his undergraduate career, he spent time working on marine robotics as well as being an assistant researcher in a machine learning-based communications lab. As a Research and Development Engineer at CORDC, his work primarily focuses on supporting the electronics lab to maintain and develop meteorological sensing systems such as the Expeditionary Meteorological (XMET).

COLE NORFLEET | R&D Engineer | Software & Robotics

Cole studied mechanical engineering at Villanova University before going on to receive an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Degree in Marine and Maritime Intelligent Robotics. He works primarily with Wavegliders and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) at CORDC. Cole is originally from New Jersey and enjoys playing volleyball.

NORMAN CHUNG | R&D Engineer | Mechanical Engineering & Robotics

Norman is an R&D engineer at CORDC working on Liquid Robotics Wavegliders. He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and geophysics from Caltech in 2023 and his master’s degree in ocean and resources engineering from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2025. His work in Hawaiʻi focused on resident, autonomous vehicles for Kilo Nalu Observatory, a near-shore cabled observatory off of the south shore of Honolulu.

CHARLIE BROOKS | Field Researcher 

Charlie earned a degree in marine science from the University of Rhode Island in 2016 before going on graduate from the Marine Systems program at The International Yacht Restoration School of Technology and Trades in Newport, Rhode Island. From there he started a career at Scripps Institution of Oceanography working in shipboard oceanographic technical support, primarily aboard the AGOR class R/V Roger Revelle. At CORDC, Charlie works to provide engineering and field support for a broad range of programs - from deployed/moored arrays to a variety of autonomous systems. 

KEEGAN BELL | Field Researcher 

Keegan received a Bachelors of Science in Marine Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara in 2018. He has spent his career as a research SCUBA diver and boat captain, providing him with a unique skill set to ensure proper execution of field operations. He enjoys surfing and spending time with his partner, Colleen, and their two dogs, Fig and Birdie.

JOSHUA L. COSTA | Marine Mechanician

Joshua is a United States Marine who has served several overseas tours of duty, including the First Battle of Falujah where he was awarded for valor in battle as a combat mechanic. After his honorable discharge, Josh worked on the prototype Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle for the USMC. He now serves as the senior Marine Mechanician of CORDC, overseeing the repair of a variety of ocean sensors and robotics. He is a father of 5 and husband to his lovely wife, Maureen.

MIKE JILKA | Marine Technician

Mike is a passionate water man and a native to La Jolla's waters with a B.A. in environmental studies and an M.A. in education. For the past two decades, Mike has turned his love for the ocean into a fulfilling career, specializing in surveying and monitoring physical oceanography of the nearshore and coastal environments. He takes pride in supporting field efforts, managing logistics, and building and maintaining equipment, as well as working with a team that is focused on having a deeper understanding of the ocean.

GABE CASTILLO | Information Technology

Gabe studied cognitive science at UC San Diego, where he developed an interest in the technical side of research. While working in neuroimaging labs, he gained hands-on experience in system administration, data analysis, and supporting computing environments for scientific research. He joined SIO to provide technical support, helping researchers leverage technology for groundbreaking discoveries. At CORDC he strives to build & maintain the digital infrastructure that supports the operational needs of the group.

JOE CHEN | Software

Joseph received his B.S. in biology from UC San Diego, however his main focus at CORDC has been programming the various websites that CORDC maintains. This includes the front end visuals as well as the back end processing. 

HEIDI BATCHELOR | GIS & Data Analysis

Heidi earned her undergraduate degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Arizona and received her masters degree in geography from San Diego State University. She is currently a lecturer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, teaching undergraduate and graduate GIS courses. At CORDC, she specializes in spatial data analysis and techniques including GIS, bathymetry, and photogrammetry for both ship and AUV/ROV based sensors.  

RAY YOUNG | PhD Candidate | Applied Ocean Science

Ray is interested in applying algorithms for path planning and optimization to uncrewed systems that operate in dynamic and uncertain environments. Ray received a B.S. and M.S. in mechanical engineering from UC San Diego and was awarded the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowship.  ✉️ Email | 💻 GitHub

KALEY MUDD | PhD Student | Applied Ocean Science

Kaley studied oceanic and atmospheric sciences and engineering mechanics at UC San Diego, where she completed thesis work related to ocean surface waves and air-sea interactions and worked as an assistant at the Coastal Data Information Program maintaining wave monitoring buoys. Kaley is originally from San Diego, California.  ✉️ Email 

ELI BOHLANDER | PhD Student | Applied Ocean Science

Eli's research interests include navigation, estimation, and control of autonomous marine systems. He received a B.S. in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Purdue University.   ✉️ Email

TED TORGESEN | MS Student | Applied Ocean Science

Ted studied oceanography at the United States Naval Academy and continues to serve as an active-duty naval officer. He is interested in investigating air-sea interactions via coastal remote sensing instruments.

ADAM MORALES | MS Student | Applied Ocean Science

Adam received a B.S. in animal science with a minor in biology from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His research interests include unmanned underwater vehicles, undersea systems, and marine technology.

NICK LOGAN | MS Student | Applied Ocean Science

ZACH KREITZER | BS/MS Student | Applied Ocean Science

Zach received his B.S. in oceanic and atmospheric science from UC San Diego in 2024 after a short career in the US Navy. His research focuses on seafloor characterization and bottom boundary layer currents in the San Pedro Basin. He is also interested in studying deep-sea processes through the use of both moored and autonomous platforms.

JUSTIN ATKINS | Administrative Assistant 

Justin is a United States Navy veteran with seven years of active duty service. Justin holds a bachelor's degree in business administration and works within the Marine Physical Lab to assist and maintain seamless purchasing, logistics, and shipping operations at CORDC.