Staff

Ted Brockett

President

Ted Brockett founded Sound Ocean Systems, Inc. (SOSI) in 1978 and is the active President of the company. He has more than thirty-eight years of experience designing, building, installing and operating mechanical systems for ocean applications. He began his career in 1971, as a mechanical engineer working for the Propulsion Branch of the Design Division, at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Honolulu. From there, he advanced to become a Senior Project Manager for INCO/OMI, a world-wide mining consortium—playing an instrumental role in the design and development of manganese nodule collectors used during the world's first successful deep ocean mining program.

Throughout his tenure as President of SOSI, Ted has served as project manager, designer and mechanical engineer. Ted has been responsible for the day-to-day operations and administration of the company. Ted prides himself on engineering innovation as well as keeping projects on schedule and within budget. He has been responsible for all aspects of SOSI's operation including: conceptual and detail design, engineering, fabrication, assembly, test, field service, evaluation, operation and documentation. His proven project management skills are routinely applied to in-house projects as well as contracted to clients. His oversight includes projects as varied as: neutrally buoyant tethered vehicle systems, deep-water mining systems, launch and recovery systems, cable embedment systems, instrument housings, seafloor platforms, winching systems, junction boxes, seafloor work packages, ocean observation equipment and environmental monitoring systems.

As chairman of the Moorings, Mechanical, and Installation Integrated Product Team (MMI IPT) for the US Navy SEAFAC Upgrade Program—Mr. Brockett led an eight-member team tasked with technical oversight of array mooring and mechanical systems and subsystems, including their installation. He oversaw design, development, procurement, integration, testing of associated systems, subsystems, and components including umbilical cable winches and motion compensated A-frames.

Mr. Brockett is an active Fellow of the Marine Technology Society (MTS) and served as the President of the National Society 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 helped to revitalize 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 MATE, the regional competition that brings high school and college students together to compete in the design of remotely operated vehicles.

Mr. Brockett has five ocean mining equipment patents, and holds both BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Norwich University and the University of Hawaii respectively. He is a member of Tau Beta Pi, the engineering honor society, and he is a trustee of the Naval Undersea Warfare Museum in Keyport, WA.

Jim Decker

Vice-President, Sales Manager

Jim Decker, brings to Sound Ocean Systems, Inc., over 15 years of sales, marketing and management experience, with an extensive background in mining, heavy industry, defense and sub-sea technologies.

As Vice President at Sound Ocean Systems, Mr. Decker is responsible for overseeing a team of project managers and engineers, planning and directing project assignments and closely working with the company Chief Engineer. He maintains responsibility over all sales and marketing efforts and interfaces daily with the SOSI client base; seeking new business, evaluating potential projects, structuring proposals and researching markets, trends and emerging technologies. Mr. Decker works directly with the worldwide SOSI sales representative network; supporting business development requirements in these regions, managing the sales planning process and establishing new representation as needed.

Prior to joining the SOSI Team, Mr. Decker worked for CodaOctopus Colmek in Washington, DC —overseeing business relations within the US and international defense communities. During these 5 years, he successfully worked on congressional fronts to acquire projects funds, advance engineering support and advocated for small business. In addition to managing on-going annual program work at Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and the US Navy—he targeted market expansion for embedded products designed for autonomous air, land and sea vehicles.

A earlier decade of his career focused on business efforts in heavy industry—working for Fortune 500 companies who offered products and services concentrated in mining, steel, pulp and paper, OEM, rail, oil & gas, and manufacturing sectors. For eight of these years, Mr. Decker managed a value-added distribution network for Lincoln Industrial in Western North America.

He holds a BS degree from Oregon State University and Master's degree in International Management from the University of Maryland University College, focused on international marketing and management with additional education from the University of Antwerp, Belgium.

Since moving to the Seattle area Mr. Decker has become an active member of the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition and member of the Seattle MTS Chapter.

Paul Hauser

Chief Engineer and Design Manager

Paul Hauser has nearly 20 years of widely varied engineering experience, from design of small machines and machine parts, to the design and management of engineered systems. His broad background includes past projects in wood products, pulp and paper, petrochemical, food processing, materials handling, steel, aluminum, and transportation. His wide range of experience brings quick and innovative solutions to many engineering challenges. He is licensed as a Professional Engineer in multiple states, including Washington, Oregon, and California with over 10 years of consulting experience in Pacific Northwest industries.

As Chief Engineer and Engineering Design Manager for Sound Ocean Systems, Mr. Hauser is responsible for all engineering and design functions within the company. As such, it is his charge to maintain and upgrade existing designs and provide all engineering for design of new products. In addition, he manages the engineering and design department by allocating personnel and resources in support of all company endeavors.

Responsibilities include implementing and maintaining the company’s Configuration Management plan and processes, providing project management for selected projects and assisting with sales by estimating engineering labor required for new projects. Recent projects have included the design and fabrication of an ABS Certified small tow winch, a large levelwind system for a winch handling 6000 m of ROV umbilical, and design of two (2) large pressure cylinders for ocean bottom data packages.

Chris Hinson

Project Manager

Chris Hinson has worked in the offshore industry for 23 years. Upon completion of Trade School at the Nichols Career Center for Electronics, Chris joined the United States Navy at the age of 17. He completed Submarine School and advanced electronics training at the Naval Submarine School in Groton Connecticut before joining the Nuclear Powered Fast Attack Submarine (USS Los Angeles SSN-688) in Pearl Harbor Hawaii as an Electronic Surveillance Measures and Navigation Electronics technician, Nuclear Weapons Security Guard and Cryptographic Material Handler. Chris completed one tour of sea duty in the Pacific Theater. During his time in the Navy, he was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit Accommodation, and multiple sea service and battle efficiency ribbons. He is a member of the Hawaii chapter of The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

For the past 18 years, Chris has worked in the Commercial Submarine and ROV industry. He is an experienced Supervisor and Manager and has held the position of Operations and Maintenance Manager for submarine companies in Fahardo Puerto Rico, Cabo San Lucas Mexico, Phuket Thailand and Key West Florida. During the “Boxing Day Tsunami”, Chris was piloting a submarine for the company he was managing. He was credited with the safe return of all passengers and company assets to the beach.

CNN.com - Sub pilot's sea skills saved lives - Jan 1, 2005

While in Key West Florida, Chris was the leader in an effort to have a foreign flagged passenger submersible operating in US waters. His diligence and attention to detail resulted in the successful licensing of this submarine operation. The first and only time this has be accomplished in maritime history. He has been a key Team member in multiple submarine builds, refits and certifications. Chris is a licensed US and Panamanian Vessel Master with endorsements for submarines, sailing and commercial assist towing. He is certified by the Panamanian division of the International Maritime Organization for the Construction and Operation of Passenger Submersible Craft. He is a licensed Vessel, Company and Port Security Officer, Master Scuba Diver and Electronics Technician. In 2007, Chris attended the Ultra Heavy Duty Work Class ROV course and T-4 Manipulator course at Schilling Robotics in Davis California.

Since 2007, Chris has participated in the mobilization of 6 UHD systems. He has worked as a Senior Pilot Technician on these systems in the Gulf of Mexico, Red Sea, Mediterranean, Indian and North Atlantic Oceans performing subsea survey, intervention, construction, trenching and pipe-lay support. He has recently returned to Sound Ocean Systems as a Program Manager and Technician.

Ron Bark

Manufacturing Manager

Ron's 40 career began as a certified boilermaker, fitter/welder and evolved into being an expert at marine equipment manufacturing. For over 15 years, Ron has focused on marine systems—building, integrating and fabricating ROVs, handling systems, winching systems, towfish and a wide array of marine related electronics and wiring.

Ron's resume additionally includes 30 years of shop management experience as well as being a field foreman. He has started apprenticeship programs, supervised training and safety programs, scheduled shop labor for optimal performance and quality control, done maintenance, repair and certification of shop equipment, coordinated international shipping and is a certified forklift instructor. Ron's many certifications include ASME, AWS, AISC, AIP 650, forklift, safety programs and welding. He is a thirty year member of the American Welding Society.

Rich Huston

Web Manager

Rich Huston brings to Sound Ocean Systems, Inc., over 15 years of web and print marketing experience as well as five years of direct sales management. As Web Manager, Rich is responsible for overseeing print and web materials for the SOSI sales team and support / materials for our Global Representative network. He designs, codes, administers and updates the SOSI web site, writes company material, press releases and provides concept illustrations for various proposals.

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