AUVSI Launches Trusted UMS Operator Program to Standardize Uncrewed Maritime Systems Training and Certification

May 20, 2025

New initiative aims to eliminate barriers to growth by formalizing industry-led training benchmarks and best practices for uncrewed maritime operations

Arlington, VA—May 20, 2025—The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) proudly announces the launch of the Trusted UMS Operator Program, a groundbreaking initiative designed to establish standardized training and certification for operators of uncrewed maritime systems (UMS) in both commercial and defense missions. Unveiled today at XPONENTIAL 2025, the global event for autonomy and robotics, the Trusted UMS Operator Program marks a significant step toward professionalizing and scaling the maritime autonomy workforce.

As uncrewed maritime systems become increasingly critical across defense, commercial, environmental, and energy sectors, the need for standardized training and certification has become more urgent. Drawing on lessons from the drone industry, where the early absence of unified standards created avoidable challenges, AUVSI and its members have launched the Trusted UMS Operator Program as a proactive solution.

Built on the foundation of AUVSI’s Trusted Operator™ framework in the UAS space, this new program defines clear, competency-based benchmarks to ensure safety, workforce readiness, and operational consistency, while enhancing the credibility and scalability of uncrewed maritime systems.

Initial Training Providers and Early Adopters

To support the launch of the Trusted UMS Operator Program, AUVSI has partnered with a select group of industry leaders who will serve as the program’s initial certified training providers:

• Safe Harbor Maritime
• Chance Maritime Technologies
• Saronic
• Ocean Power Technologies (OPT)
• Black Sea Technologies
• Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

These organizations were chosen for their demonstrated excellence in uncrewed maritime training and their ability to align curricula with the rigorous standards outlined in the program’s Certification Manual.

In addition to these private-sector providers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Navy played an active role in the development of the standard. The Naval Oceanographic Office in particular, is examining how to align their internal training programs to certify personnel under the Trusted UMS Operator framework, underscoring the program’s relevance across government, commercial, and mission-critical environments.

“By certifying our Sailors, Marines, and Civilian operators through AUVSI’s Trusted UMS Operator Program, we can help ensure that every sailor has the latest training to operate our fleet of unmanned systems safely, and effectively.  Enhancing our warfighter and workforce proficiency directly contributes to the delivery of real-time, actionable environmental intelligence, which enables access, maximizes maneuver, and increases lethality,” said Jason McKenna, Chief Technology Officer and Deputy N8/N9 Commander, Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC).

“This effort also demonstrates the Naval Oceanography Enterprise’s commitment to the Mississippi “Blue Economy” initiative by ensuring those in the oceanography profession here at Stennis Space Center have the career development opportunities necessary to attract, and retain, the best and brightest to the Gulf Coast.”

Founding Committee Members

The development of the Trusted UMS Operator Program has been guided by a diverse committee of experts from industry, academia, and government. The founding committee members include:

• Jason McKenna (Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (CNMOC))
• Veneela Ammula (ABS)
• Jim Kockler (BlackSea Technologies)
• Austin Gray (Blue Water Autonomy)
• Jason Webb (Booze Allen Hamilton)
• Stuart Chance (Chance Maritime)
• Michael Scherer (Chance Maritime)
• David Thirtyacre (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
• Nicolas Gracieux (Exail)
• Jelmer de Winter (Fugro)
• Matthew Thompson (Hydrographic Department Naval Oceanographic Office)
• Jacob Sobin (Kongsberg)
• Steve Boraz (Leidos)
• Jonathan Beck (National Center for Autonomous Technologies)
• Caitlin Hardy (Ness-Sea)
• Capt. Bill Mowitt (NOAA)
• Dexter Malley (NOAA)
• Peter Oppenheimer (NOAA)
• Bruce Morris (Saronic)
• Gordon Meadow (Seabot Maritime)
• Hariharan Balasubramanian (SUNY Maritime College)
• Robert Nicholson (University of Delaware)
• Dr. Vishwamithra (Vishwa) Sunkara (University of Southern Mississippi – Ocean Enterprise)
• Carl Szczechowski (University of Southern Mississippi – UMS Certificate Programs)

These individuals brought a wealth of operational and academic experience and insight, ensuring the program is comprehensive, practical, and aligned with real-world operational needs.

“This program was built by the people who know the mission best—those operating, training, and deploying uncrewed maritime systems every day,” said Casie Ocaña, Vice President of Public Affairs at AUVSI. “Their expertise ensured we created a framework that’s not only rigorous, but also relevant and ready for real-world use.”

About AUVSI

The Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) is the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of uncrewed systems and robotics. Representing corporations and professionals from more than 60 countries, AUVSI advocates for the safe and ethical integration of uncrewed systems across all domains.

For More Information

To learn more about the Trusted Operator Maritime program, including certification requirements and training opportunities, please visit: https://www.auvsi.org/trusted-operator-maritime