Mac, with over 26 years in the maritime sector, leads PML’s Marine Operations Group, managing day-to-day operations of the Marine Technology and Autonomy team, as well as overseeing crewed and uncrewed platform operations. At the National Centre for Coastal Autonomy (NCCA), he directs local at-sea science initiatives and manages Smart Sound deployments.
Mac’s expertise is rooted in 23 years of global maritime operations within the defence sector, often collaborating with international partners in high-stakes environments. Previously, he was Operations Manager for a UK-based USV company, overseeing crewed and autonomous commercial operations both domestically and internationally.
With a focus on coordination and development in autonomy, Mac has led training, trials, and operational activities, including managing launch and recovery systems for USVs and establishing the Remote Operations Centre to meet UK standards. He holds an MSc in Advanced Hydrography from Plymouth University and is an active member of the Future Autonomous at Sea Technologies (FAST) Cluster. Mac co-chairs the Remote Operations Centres sub-group and contributes to drafting guidelines for the National Correspondence Group-Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (NCG-MASS).