Marine Technology Society News Release

Six Join MTS Distinguished Fellows

09/16/2008

Six members of the Marine Technology Society were named Fellows on Tuesday at the annual Awards Luncheon of the Marine Technology Society. The luncheon was held during the OCEANS’08 MTS/IEEE Quebec City Conference in Canada. Designation as a Marine Technology Fellow is awarded to MTS members who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of the society’s objectives and who have distinguished accomplishments and experience in their professional fields.  Honored were Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, assistant administrator for research at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Ted Brockett, president of Sound Ocean Systems, Inc., of Redmond, Wash.; Dietmar R. Deter, owner of Nautex, Inc., of Houston, Texas; Sandor A. Karpathy, senior project manager at Stress Subsea, Inc., of Houston, Texas; and Capt. Daniel S. Schwartz, manager of marine operations at the University Of Washington’s School of Oceanography in Seattle, Wash.; Mark S. Olsson, president of DeepSea Power and Light of San Diego, Calif.

Dr. Spinrad has had a distinguished career in a broad range of roles, from active research scientist to leader of research programs and organizations. As assistant administrator for research at NOAA, he is responsible for managing and directing a major organization with an annual budget of over $400 million and seven research laboratories. In addition to meeting the demands of his senior-level positions, Dr. Spinrad has been an active member in a number of professional societies—as a speaker, a session chair and, currently, as president of the Oceanography Society.

Ted Brockett’s service to MTS has been extensive. He served as MTS’s president from 2002 to 2004. He co-chaired the international MTS/IEEE OCEANS Conference in Seattle in 1999—a role he will repeat in 2010. In the 1980s, he revitalized the society’s Puget Sound Section as chair and has for many years served on its executive committee. He also helps to organize and raise funds for the regional competition that brings high school and college students together to compete in the design of remotely operated vehicles.

Dietmar Deter’s contributions to marine and offshore propulsion earned him the honor of receiving the MTS Dynamic Positioning Professional Committee’s 2003 Distinguished Achievement Award. His early pioneering work included the propulsion systems for the Sedco 445, the world’s first dynamically positioned oil exploration drillship, and the Sedco 709, the world’s first dynamically positioned semisubmersible.

Sandor Karpahy has over 35 years of experience as a mechanical engineer and project manager. Involvement with MTS has been an important part of Karpathy’s professional profile since he became a member of the society more than a decade ago. Currently vice president of section affairs on the MTS Board of Directors, he has served as secretary, vice chair and chair of the MTS Houston Section and now serves on the section’s executive council.

Capt. Daniel S. Schwartz has served on the MTS Board of Directors as vice president for education and research, and as vice president of technical affairs. During his tenure with MTS, he led the reorganization of the MTS technical and professional structure, was the driving force in a major rewrite of the bylaws and convened a task group to evaluate MTS programs that support education and scholarships.

Mark S. Olsson’s innovative designs in lights, cameras, batteries and ceramic spheres are used throughout the ocean industry. His HMI lights were used to illuminate the Titanic. He chaired the MTS Underwater Imaging Professional Committee, supports the numerous activities that affect young people, including the remotely operated vehicle competitions of the Marine Advanced Technology Education (MATE) Center, the Human Powered Sub Competitions and the summer internship of the MTS San Diego Section, for which he provides a high school student with the opportunity to work for six weeks at DeepSea Power and Light.