Nick Gagliano is the Sales Manager for Uncrewed Platforms at Kongsberg Discovery, where he works at the interface of science, technology and operations to advance the use of autonomous vehicles for ocean mapping and environmental observing. In this role, he supports researchers, government agencies and industries across the Gulf and beyond in deploying AUV and USV technologies to expand data coverage in coastal and offshore environments.

Prior to joining Kongsberg, Nick served as an Account Executive at Sofar Ocean, where he helped academic institutions, federal programs and private-sector operators scale their observing capabilities using Sofar’s real-time metocean data platforms. His work supported numerous coastal monitoring networks — including those within the GCOOS footprint — by improving access to high-resolution ocean and weather information and strengthening data pathways between field assets and decision-makers.

Before transitioning to industry, Nick spent four years at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), contributing to deep-sea coral research and the management of national bathymetric data assets. His efforts supported long-term stewardship of critical seafloor datasets and the integration of biological and geophysical information for resource management and exploration across the Gulf and U.S. waters.

Nick is completing a Master’s degree in marine science at the University of Southern Mississippi, where his graduate research broadly examines sediment transport processes in the northern Gulf of America. His work focuses on understanding physical drivers that influence the movement of suspended sediments in nearshore systems.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Nick serves as Vice Chair of the Marine Technology Society’s Gulf Coast Section and works to strengthen regional collaboration around ocean observing and applied marine technology. Across academic, federal and industry roles, he has remained committed to advancing ocean data accessibility, supporting stakeholder needs and helping build a more resilient Gulf of America.