Undersea Technology is a Top Priority for National Security Leaders

From the Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium, Sept. 2, 2025

NEWPORT, R.I. – The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium (UTIC) reinforced its role as a leader in undersea defense innovation at SENEDIA’s 11th annual Defense Innovation Days. The national event attracted nearly 400 influential defense decisionmakers and innovators.

“UTIC was proud to serve once again as a platinum sponsor for this important conference, which creates valuable opportunities for our members to connect, collaborate and innovate,” said Molly Donohue Magee, Chief Executive Officer of UTIC. “Our members displayed their cutting-edge technology that will provide solutions for future undersea challenges.”

Government – Industry Collaboration

The sold-out event included panels and keynote speeches that touched upon the importance of government-industry collaboration and the need to move faster in the scaling of the technology that will maintain the United States’ competitive advantage in undersea warfare.

“The battlespace is expanding from the seabed to space, in all oceans and seas across the globe. We must sustain our focus on the fleet needs to make certain our warfighters have the capabilities to dominate any fight, anywhere, any time,” said Marie Bussiere, Technical Director at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport, as part of a panel discussion she moderated on undersea innovation. “To maintain the undersea advantage, we need to get solutions into the hands of the fleet faster.”

Pathway to Procurement

UTIC manages the industry consortium for the U.S. Navy’s Other Transaction Agreement (OTA), which provides members with the ability to rapidly research, test and prototype undersea and maritime technological innovations in support of Navy requirements.

Several speakers highlighted the U.S. Navy’s increasing emphasis on the OTA as a tool for delivering the critical technology needed to enhance mission readiness.

“OTAs now make up 20% of the contracting portfolios spent at Division Newport, and that continues to increase. OTAs are now the first-look for contracting activities. We expect that there will be increased opportunities there,” said Steve Lamb, Chief of the Contracting Office at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport.

Sponsorships

More than a dozen UTIC members served as sponsors of Defense Innovation Days, supporting the event and in turn, promoting meaningful undersea tech innovation.