Kortney Opshaug

Kortney Opshaug is the CEO and Founder of Blue Ocean Gear, a California-based technology company that develops Smart Buoys for commercial fishing fleets to track gear in the ocean.13 She founded the company in 2015 with the goal of creating innovative solutions for IoT tracking in marine environments.2

Background and Education

Opshaug has an impressive educational background in aerospace engineering:

• Ph.D. in Aerospace from Stanford University
• M.S. in Aeronautics & Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• B.S. in Aeronautics & Astronautics from MIT2

Professional Experience

Before founding Blue Ocean Gear, Opshaug had a diverse career in engineering and operations:

• Associate Director of Mission Operations for the SOFIA program at USRA (2009-2015)
• Director of Engineering at Deep Ocean Engineering (2008-2009)
• Biosystems Engineer at Entelos, Inc. (2005-2008)
• Dynamics and Controls Engineer at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space (2003-2005)24

Blue Ocean Gear

At Blue Ocean Gear, Opshaug leads the development of high-tech buoys that can track fishing gear in the marine environment.2 These smart devices help fishermen:

• Reduce gear loss
• Decrease fuel usage
• Provide critical information for fisheries and adjacent ocean industries1

The company has delivered over 700 Smart Buoys to fisheries around North America, offering data-driven insights to customers.1 Opshaug has fostered partnerships with organizations such as the Global Ghost Gear Initiative, Canada's DFO, and NOAA.13

Achievements and Expertise

Opshaug is the author of U.S. patents awarded for Blue Ocean Gear's smart fishing technology.3 Her work focuses on bridging the gap between conservation and the commercial fishing industry through technological innovation.6 She has also participated in international climate conferences, such as COP28 in the United Arab Emirates, to discuss sustainable fishing practices.5