Justin Manley is an innovative technologist and executive with experience in startup, public corporation, academic, and public sectors. Mr. Manley has been working with marine technology and robotics since 1990 and is a recognized leader in uncrewed systems development and operations. After professional roles at MIT, supporting NOAA and in the private sector Mr. Manley founded Just Innovation Inc. in 2015. He supports diverse clients with a focus on robotics and ocean tech. Mr. Manley is a Senior Advisor to Oceankind and Venture Partner at AiiM Partners where he works to advance innovations for ocean conservation and commercial returns. He is an advisor to numerous oceantech startups, and a co-founder of Seahawk Robotics which is commercializing patented drones for ocean operations.
Mr. Manley is extensively involved in the marine technology profession through a variety of leadership roles. He is a Senior Member of IEEE, a Life Member and Past-President of the Marine Technology Society (MTS), and a Fellow of the Institute for Marine Engineering Science and Technology (IMAREST). Mr. Manley was a founding member of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System [IOOS) Advisory Committee, currently a member of NOAA’s Ocean Exploration Advisory Board, and Co-chair of the UN Ocean Decade Technology and Innovation Working Group. In 2025 he was appointed to the Ocean Studies Board of The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. He holds two patents in uncrewed systems oversight and security.