CURRENT LEADERSHIP
Michael Skalyo
Founder & Chief Architect
Engineering autonomy for ocean restoration.
Read founder profile →TEAM · FORMING
The team is forming around the problem, not the org chart.
LFE is assembling the marine science, autonomous systems, engineering, data, regulatory, and field-operations capability required to turn a prelaunch thesis into measured work in the ocean.
CURRENT TEAM STATUS
Founder-led and prelaunch. The disciplines below describe the planned operating team and active collaboration needs. They do not represent filled roles, named hires, or a deployed field organization.
BUILDING THE FIRST TEAM
Interdisciplinary by design.
Lionfish removal at scale is not a single-technology challenge. Ecology determines what responsible control looks like. Field operations reveal what survives contact with the ocean. Engineering makes repeatability possible. Data makes the outcome credible.
The initial team architecture is intentionally lean: clear owners, fractional specialists, research collaborators, and field partners working against named evidence milestones.
The first team’s job is to reduce uncertainty—scientific, technical, operational, regulatory, and commercial.
PLANNED TEAM ARCHITECTURE
Six capabilities the mission needs.
01
PLANNED FUNCTION
Marine Science & Field Operations
Lionfish behavior, reef ecology, removal protocols, dive and ROV campaigns, habitat safeguards, and field evidence quality.
02
PLANNED FUNCTION
Autonomy, Controls & Navigation
Mission planning, station keeping, underwater localization, fault handling, supervised autonomy, and coordinated vehicle behavior.
03
PLANNED FUNCTION
Computer Vision & Machine Learning
Low-light detection, training data, non-target avoidance, confidence thresholds, model validation, and edge inference.
04
PLANNED FUNCTION
Robotics, Mechatronics & Naval Engineering
Hydrodynamics, pressure systems, propulsion, capture mechanisms, energy, thermal control, maintainability, and test rigs.
05
PLANNED FUNCTION
Data, Telemetry & Impact
Mission logs, spatial data, sightings, confirmed captures, cold-chain records, ecological measures, and partner dashboards.
06
PLANNED FUNCTION
Regulatory, Safety & Partnerships
Permits, marine safety, agency coordination, research agreements, reef-community engagement, funding, and market pathways.
OPEN COLLABORATION LANES
Where early builders can contribute.
Engagements will be shaped around scope, funding, readiness, and a concrete deliverable. No role is represented as open employment until formally posted.
RESEARCH
Conservation robotics
Autonomy pipelines, simulation, multi-agent coordination, low-light perception, and safety envelopes.
SCIENCE
Marine ecology
Behavior modeling, reef assessments, observation protocols, data labeling, and removal-impact design.
ENGINEERING
Robotics & mechatronics
CAD, hydrodynamics, mechanisms, pressure housings, propulsion integration, energy, and prototyping.
OPERATIONS
Field systems
Dive support, ROV handling, test planning, safety, recovery, field logistics, and mission documentation.
MEET THE TEAM PAGES
A profile system ready for each person who joins.
Every future team page will use a consistent structure so visitors can understand who is involved, what they own, and what evidence supports the work—without inflated titles or vague biographies.
Role and mission remit
Relevant experience and credentials
Current work and named deliverables
Publications, portfolio, or field evidence
Contact and professional links
Employment, advisor, fellow, or partner status
CONTRIBUTE WITH CLARITY
Bring a discipline. Leave with evidence.
Share the problem you can help solve, the time you can commit, and the artifact or field result you would aim to deliver.