Designed for the Mission.
Undersea superiority through mission-focused innovation, delivered at scale.
The defense & commercial industries have spent decades building autonomous undersea platforms that were slow to develop, expensive to procure, and difficult to operate. Vatn took a different approach.
Our vehicles are designed for manufacturability from day one. COTS components where they make sense. Purpose-built systems where they matter. Modular architecture that lets operators swap payloads without engineering support. Training measured in minutes, not months.
Founded
Vatn founded to build low-cost, modular autonomous maritime systems for defense, research, and commercial operators.
Initial focus on autonomy, navigation, and manufacturable underwater vehicles designed for real operational constraints.
First Systems & Early Fielding
Core team grows to ~15 full-time engineers and operators.
Development of Vatn’s proprietary autonomy, navigation, and control stack (GPS-denied navigation, low-cost sensing, ATAK integration).
Skelmir S6 architecture finalized: a 6-inch diameter, modular AUV designed to be attritable and rapidly configurable.
First autonomous launch and mission execution at Silent Swarm, deploying from an uncrewed surface vessel.
Public product launch of Skelmir S6, with state and industry leadership in attendance.
First delivery contract signed.
Programs, Partners, and Scale
First deliveries of operational units to customers.
Vatn deployed across defense, research, and experimentation efforts supporting undersea ISR, logistics, sensing, and payload delivery missions.
Expansion of modular payload ecosystem (sensor, comms, and mission-specific modules).
Engagements with U.S. DoD, NATO partners, and allied operators for operational trials and concept validation.
Continued maturation of collaborative autonomy and swarm concepts.
Introduction of larger-format vehicle architectures (including Skelmir S12) to support longer-range and higher-payload missions.
Transition to Fielded Capability
Multiple programs move from prototype to field-ready configurations.
Platform roadmap expands to support:
- Higher-speed variants
- Mission-specific payload encapsulation
- Distributed operations and cross-domain integration
Focus shifts from single-vehicle demonstrations to repeatable production, operator training, and deployment at scale.
Vatn designs and manufactures modular autonomous maritime systems built for rapid deployment, low cost, and real-world operations. Vehicles are actively used and evaluated by government, allied, and commercial customers operating in constrained and contested maritime environments.
Headquartered in Rhode Island. Operational since 2023. Deployed in DoD exercises.
The Team Behind the Mission
Executive Leadership
Nelson Mills
A lifelong sailor who led hull development at Pure Watercraft, an electric boating startup that has raised $170M+ in funding. He later consulted on R&D for hydrofoiling electric boats. Just prior to Vatn, he was an investor at Link Ventures and previously held investor roles with Lux Capital and Global Founders Capital. Nelson holds a BA and MBA from Columbia University.
Geoff Manchester
Experienced mechanical engineer and mariner who was the director of engineering at Koop for a decade. While there, he led a team of engineers and developed some of the most advanced hydrofoiling electric boats in the world and a variety of other projects, including submersibles. Geoff has a BS in ME from Montana State University.
Freddie Mills
A highly accomplished maritime operations leader and autonomous systems specialist with extensive expertise in vessel logistics, advanced maritime technologies, and composite systems integration. Freddie has successfully directed multidisciplinary teams and complex R&D programs, delivering mission-critical solutions for government, commercial, and private clients with his company Mills Composites & Salvage.
Dan Hendrix
Seasoned tech development program manager with experience in government projects focused on digital vision and virtual reality solutions. A former commander of a Special Forces Dive unit, Dan concurrently serves as Deputy Commander of a brigade headquarters in the National Guard. He holds a BS from the US Air Force Academy and a Masters in Military Doctrine and Strategic Management.
MJ Thomas
As a senior executive in the FBI overseeing the Counterproliferation Center, MJ has a distinguished background in National Security, Risk and Counterintelligence. Her experience will be instrumental in our mission to enhance security processes that protect Vatn's assets and support the warfighter.
Tim Salter
With a thirty-year career in the U.S. Navy, Tim brings extensive experience in Washington operations, public policy, and government relations. He has specific expertise in navigating the intersection of technology and government and shaping national security priorities.
Board of Advisors
Constantine Saab
Costa brings a wealth of experience from his leadership roles at the CIA, including Chief Strategy Officer and Acting Assistant Director. He is currently a senior advisor at Valor Equity Partners and on the Board of Advisors of Anduril and Peraton.
Scott Howell
Lt Gen Howell is the former commander of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) from 2018-2021 where he commanded military operations across multiple theaters. Prior to that, he was Vice Commander of SOCOM where led the acquisition, budgeting, programming, and fiscal processes for the command.
Paul Kennedy
MajGen Kennedy is a decorated combat commander serving multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, he was Commanding General, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Commanding General Marine Corps Recruiting, and most recently was Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Collin Green
A career SEAL officer, Vice Adm. Collin Green served at SEAL Teams 2, 3, and 5, and commanded Naval Special Warfare Command. He held key leadership roles including Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command South, and Deputy Commander, U.S. Special Operations Command.
Jim Smith
Jim Smith, former Acquisitions Executive of SOCOM, has held various positions including Chief, Firepower Division, Combat Developments Directorate, Assistant Product Manager, Interoperability Chief, Soldier Sensors and Lasers Product Manager.
Phil Sawyer
A career submarine officer, Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer served in both fast attack and ballistic missile submarines. He served as Commander Submarine Forces Pacific; Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet. He is the Chair of Undersea Warfare at Naval Postgraduate School.
