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About
Caitlin Hardy is an internationally recognized maritime leader and entrepreneurial strategist with deep expertise in defense and emerging ocean technologies including maritime operations and shipbuilding. As Founder and Managing Director of Ness Sea, a strategic consulting firm at the intersection of maritime and high-tech innovation, she advises private and public sector
clients—from start-ups to government agencies —on scaling technology including digitization and dual-use innovation. Her firm also works with international OEMs and service providers looking to break into the US market. In 2025, Caitlin was voted #6 on the Top Women in Shipping list globally by industry peers.
Previously, as President of Kongsberg Discovery US, she led the transformation of the company’s North American business, tripling its revenue, launching U.S.-based manufacturing, and securing high-impact, multi-million-dollar contracts with the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and U.S. Coast Guard. She brings seasoned P&L responsibility and a proven record of building high-performing, cross-
functional teams in complex regulatory environments. In addition to her role leading the US entity, she also directly supported the Norwegian leadership team for their parent company at Kongsberg Gruppen leading multiple regulatory and compliance related projects across numerous entities globally as well as supporting M&A diligence for scaling global business units.
Caitlin%27s career spans critical leadership roles in continuous improvement (Holland America Group), safety innovation and alternative fuels including LNG (Foss Maritime and Saltchuk), and engineering (Crowley), consistently delivering results in highly operational and asset-intensive sectors. She has experience advising on Buy American compliance, government affairs strategy,
cybersecurity compliance, dual-use innovation, and US government contracting.
Her board-level experience includes service with non-profits and industry groups. Caitlin is currently the Co-Vice Chair for Washington Maritime BLUE and serves on both the Executive and Finance Committees. She also serves on the Lloyd’s List Editorial Board, Women Offshore Advisory Board, and the ISO TC-8 Technical Committee under the US Coast Guard. She is a frequent speaker at maritime and defense events, most recently speaking in May 2025 at the
Maritime Law Association on cybersecurity and autonomy. She holds a B.S. in Naval Architecture from the US Naval Academy and an MBA from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business.
clients—from start-ups to government agencies —on scaling technology including digitization and dual-use innovation. Her firm also works with international OEMs and service providers looking to break into the US market. In 2025, Caitlin was voted #6 on the Top Women in Shipping list globally by industry peers.
Previously, as President of Kongsberg Discovery US, she led the transformation of the company’s North American business, tripling its revenue, launching U.S.-based manufacturing, and securing high-impact, multi-million-dollar contracts with the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and U.S. Coast Guard. She brings seasoned P&L responsibility and a proven record of building high-performing, cross-
functional teams in complex regulatory environments. In addition to her role leading the US entity, she also directly supported the Norwegian leadership team for their parent company at Kongsberg Gruppen leading multiple regulatory and compliance related projects across numerous entities globally as well as supporting M&A diligence for scaling global business units.
Caitlin%27s career spans critical leadership roles in continuous improvement (Holland America Group), safety innovation and alternative fuels including LNG (Foss Maritime and Saltchuk), and engineering (Crowley), consistently delivering results in highly operational and asset-intensive sectors. She has experience advising on Buy American compliance, government affairs strategy,
cybersecurity compliance, dual-use innovation, and US government contracting.
Her board-level experience includes service with non-profits and industry groups. Caitlin is currently the Co-Vice Chair for Washington Maritime BLUE and serves on both the Executive and Finance Committees. She also serves on the Lloyd’s List Editorial Board, Women Offshore Advisory Board, and the ISO TC-8 Technical Committee under the US Coast Guard. She is a frequent speaker at maritime and defense events, most recently speaking in May 2025 at the
Maritime Law Association on cybersecurity and autonomy. She holds a B.S. in Naval Architecture from the US Naval Academy and an MBA from the University of Washington, Foster School of Business.
