Blue Water Autonomy, the Boston-based startup racing to build unmanned ships for the U.S. Navy, just stacked its bench with heavy hitters. The company has assembled an advisory board packed with retired admirals and defense tech veterans, signaling a serious push to scale its autonomous surface vessel (USV) ambitions. This isn’t just a vanity move—it’s a strategic play to bridge the gap between cutting-edge tech and naval reality.
The board includes RADM (ret.) Tom Anderson, who oversaw the Navy’s entire surface ship fleet as PEO Ships; Stephen Rodriguez, a dual-use tech investor and chairman of Blue Forge Alliance; Michael Stewart, former head of the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities Office; and VADM (ret.) Roy Kitchener, the former “SWO Boss” who commanded surface forces in the Pacific. These aren’t just names on a letterhead. They’re the people who’ve spent decades wrestling with the Navy’s biggest challenges—acquisition bottlenecks, industrial base limitations, and the operational hurdles of integrating new tech.
“As we enter the next phase of growth, this advisory board brings the expertise and leadership we need to scale fast—and to do it right,” said Rylan Hamilton, CEO and co-founder of Blue Water Autonomy. “We’re thrilled to welcome such a distinguished group who’ve spent their careers solving the exact problems we’re tackling today: how to accelerate naval capability, integrate new technologies responsibly, and strengthen the industrial base.”
This isn’t just about having the right people in the room. It’s about having the right people in the room at the right time. Blue Water Autonomy is coming off a string of milestones—a $50 million Series A led by Google Ventures, a shipyard partnership with Conrad Shipyards, and a new Washington D.C. office. The advisory board isn’t just advising; they’re helping the company navigate the minefield of Navy acquisition, industrial base constraints, and operational integration.
Take Michael Stewart, for instance. As the former head of the Navy’s Disruptive Capabilities Office, he was the guy pushing to get emerging tech into the hands of commanders fast. Now, he’s calling Blue Water Autonomy a “game-changer” in maritime autonomy. That’s not just praise—it’s a signal that the company’s approach to modular, rapidly producible USVs aligns with the Navy’s urgent needs.
Then there’s Stephen Rodriguez, who’s been vocal about the risks of falling behind in the autonomous systems race. “We are at an inflection point where the future of naval dominance will not be measured solely by the tonnage of our manned fleet, but by our ability to field a resilient, distributed, and software-defined force,” he said. “Long-range unmanned surface vessels represent the vanguard of this new maritime paradigm.”
This isn’t just about building ships. It’s about building a new way of thinking about naval power. The Navy’s push for unmanned systems isn’t just about cost savings—it’s about operational flexibility, distributed lethality, and staying ahead of potential adversaries. Blue Water Autonomy’s advisory board brings the credibility and connections to help the company navigate that shift.
But here’s the real test: Can they turn that expertise into execution? The Navy has been talking about unmanned systems for years, but actually fielding them at scale is a different beast. Blue Water Autonomy’s ability to deliver on its promises—rapid production, long-endurance autonomy, and modular mission flexibility—will determine whether this advisory board is just a smart move or a game-changer.
One thing’s clear: The company isn’t just building ships. It’s building a bridge between the Navy’s future needs and the industrial base that has to deliver them. And with this advisory board, they’re sending a clear message: We’re not just here to talk. We’re here to build.