Deep Reach Technology Team
Team
DRT's world-class team of engineers, scientists, and specialists.
Executive Management Team
Dr. John Halkyard, PE
Founder, Chairman of the Board and Subject Matter Expert
Ocean Engineering, Floating Systems, Moorings & Risers50+ years leading deep-sea development projects. Ten years heading Kennecotts nodule mining system development; 30 years in oil & gas R&D. Co-inventor of successful Spar platform. Technical lead on OTEC Platform Development as consultant to Lockheed-Martin. Founded Ocean Minerals, LLC in 2015.
Founded Deep Reach Technology in 2011.
Michael Rai Anderson
Chief Executive Officer, Board Member and Separation Expert
Organizational Strategy & Liquid/Solid Separation25+ years in start-up and executive management roles within engineering consulting, energy services, mining technology, and engineer-to-order businesses. Recent experience includes Chief Technology Officer of TerraSource Global, President of Elgin Separation Solutions, CEO of KEMTRON Technologies and VP of T-3 Energy Services.
Joined DRT in 2014.
Steven Rizea, PE
Chief Technology Officer and Board Member
System Modelling, Fluid & Slurry Hydraulics20+ years design and numerical hydro-thermal modeling of offshore renewable and deep-sea mining systems. Sr. Mechanical Engineer at Makai Ocean Engineering including Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) design and modelling.
Joined DRT in 2017.
Jim Wodehouse, PE
Vice President of Projects and Board Member
Floating Facilities & Program Management40+ years experience in the execution of offshore O&G drilling and floating production projects, including cost estimating, proposals preparation, and concept engineering through to the detailed design, procurement, contracting and construction for projects spanning $1.0 billion.
Joined DRT in 2017.
Rufai Kolawole, CPA, CGMA
Senior Controller and Financial Planner
Strategic and Transformational FinanceSeasoned finance executive with over 25 years of proven success driving strategic growth, financial optimization, and operational excellence across the oil & gas services, renewable energy, and consulting sectors. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA).
Joined DRT in 2025.
Technical Specialists Team
Dr. Kamlesh Joshi
Research Engineer
Computational Fluid Dynamics and Ocean Engineering5 years of experience solving mechanical and aerospace engineering problems. Experienced in handling CFD, Thermal and Fluid dynamics-based projects. Principle analyst on nodule collector plume mitigation project funded by ARPA-E.
Joined DRT in 2020.
Sanjana Das
Project Engineer
Mechanical / Structural Design & FEA4 years with DRT serving as project engineer on offshore designs, including subsea micropiles for floating wind applications. Graduate research using Immersed Boundary Finite Element Method (IBFEM) to solve contact problems.
Joined DRT in 2021.
Thomas Chafe
Process Engineer, EIT
Mineral and Energy Resource Process Engineering, Simulation (Aspen HYSYS)Prior to joining DRT in 2024, Process Engineering co-op student experience at Cenovus Energy conducting process simulations for the oil & natural gas industry of Newfoundland. Currently lead author for the process engineering section of a Scoping Study for the Japanese nodule project.
Joined DRT in 2024.
Mia Gaudet
Business Development and Ocean Engineer, EIT
Ocean Engineering / Naval Architecture, Design & Analysis (SolidWorks)Experience in autonomous surface vehicle design, research on classification requirements for structural guidance in design of arctic vessels and recently at DRT assisted in drafting a deep-sea mining scoping study for the University of Tokyo.
Joined DRT in 2024.
Dr. Mohammed Uddin
Senior Ocean Engineer
Computational Fluid Dynamics and Ocean EngineeringModeling simulation specialist. His expertise includes Hardware-in-the-Loop simulation and setup, deep-sea mining, bio-inspired engineering, subsea micro-pile design, rapid prototyping, and ship design/construction.
Joined DRT in 2021.
Dr. Nathan D. Rebuck
Senior Environmental Scientist
Project Management, Environmental Monitoring and Offshore InvestigationsSenior environmental professional with extensive experience in project management, environmental monitoring & management, offshore site investigations, renewable energy permitting, stakeholder engagement and risk assessment.
Joined DRT in 2025.
Subject Matter Experts
Jack Lifton
REE and Critical Minerals Expert
Supply Chain, Processing, and Techno-Economics60+ years of experience in materials research, industrial manufacturing, metals trading, and executive leadership. Currently advises companies, institutional investors, and government organizations on metals sourcing, processing technologies, and the technical and commercial viability of supply chains worldwide.
Supporting DRT since 2014.
Jon Machin
Geotechnical & Subsea Systems
Geotechnical Engineering, Subsea Vehicle Design35+ years experience in geotechnical engineering and subsea vehicle development. Helped develop first subsea drill for Perry Slingsby and was Head of Offshore Engineering for DeepGreen Metals (now The Metals Company).
Supporting DRT since 2011.
Doug Maxwell
Metallurgical Engineer
Hydrometallurgy, Process Design, Material Handling & DewateringExperienced project manager for process testing, process design, feasibility studies and construction projects. Co-inventor of DRTs shipboard process for recovering rare earth elements from seafloor sediments.
Supporting DRT since 2014.
David Felix
Exploration Geologist
Deep-Sea Sedimentary Geology & Env. Remediation14-year geologist for KCON nodule project, 1968-1982. 7 years as mining consultant and 19 years as Technical Specialist.
Supporting DRT since 2011.
Richard Petters
Subsea Mooring Specialist
Mech. Engineer, Subsea Collector Design and TestingProject engineer for OMI nodule collector tested in 1978. 25 years designing and testing subsea equipment: ROVs, AUVs, trenchers, etc. Lockheed Martin Undersea Systems.
Supporting DRT since 2011.
Dr. Robert Blevins
Senior Fluid Mechanics Advisor
Fluid Dynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Flow Induced Vibrations40 years experienced specialist in fluid dynamics and fluid-structure interaction. Author of Flow-Induced Vibration, Formulas for Natural Frequency and Mode Shape, and Applied Fluid Dynamics Handbook.
Supporting DRT since 2019.
Dr. Fernando Frimm
Program Manager
Floating Facilities & Drillship Design40 years experience including leadership positions in Exmar Offshore, SBM Offshore and GustoMSC. Lead DRT effort to investigate drillship conversion for deep ocean mining.
Supporting DRT since 2022.
Daina Paulikas
Techno-Economic Analysis
Strategic Planning & Technical Writing20 years as multi-disciplinary team member, leader in aerospace, defense and deep-sea mining industries. Three years as Head of Sustainability Studies for The Metals Company. Lead author for the University of Tokyo Nodule Project Scoping Study.
Supporting DRT since 2024.
Sharath Rawula
Hydrographer & Oceanographer
Oceanographer & Marine Scientist20 years of engineering, oceanographic, and geotechnical experience in the academic and offshore industry, supporting engineering, and oil & gas clientele, including data analysis, surveyor, oceanographer, navigator and engineer.
Supporting DRT since 2014.
John Buckell
Geotechnical Engineer
Seafloor Trafficability20 years experience in all aspects of onshore/offshore geotechnical operations. Including project management, QHSE, geological/geotechnical interpretation, engineering design and seabed ROV investigations.
Supporting DRT since 2024.