Shelly Wyman and Derek Meier: The Future of Uncrewed Systems for Coast Guard Missions
55m | Oct 13, 2026Every time the Coast Guard sends a crew out, it's making a decision about where to put limited people, boats, and resources. And sometimes that decision starts with an alert that turns out to be nothing. What if an uncrewed boat or aircraft could take a closer look first, gather information, and help determine whether a crew needs to respond? That's one of the possibilities the Coast Guard is exploring as it looks for better ways to carry out its missions.
My guests today are Shelly Wyman and Derek Meier from the U.S. Coast Guard Research and Development Center. Shelly is a research scientist who graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 2006 with a background in civil engineering. She's worked in Coast Guard sector operations and at headquarters, taught engineering at the Academy, and later moved into aviation research at the R&D Center. Derek is a research engineer who earned his mechanical engineering degree from UConn and worked in submarine construction at Electric Boat before joining the Center in 2019. Much of his work has focused on uncrewed surface vessels and finding ways to put that technology to use in Coast Guard operations.
We talk about their work on RIPTIDE, a research initiative exploring how uncrewed aircraft and boats can work together, share information, and help operators make better decisions. Shelly and Derek share what they've learned from field demonstrations, the challenges of adapting technology to the maritime environment, and how partnerships with other military branches and research organizations are helping move the work forward. We also get into what it takes to move a technology from testing into the hands of the people who will actually use it. And throughout our conversation, there's a common theme: the goal isn't to replace Coast Guard crews, but to give them better information and help them focus their time and resources where they're needed most.
In This Episode:
[02:14] Shelly Wyman shares her path from the Coast Guard Academy through civil engineering, teaching, and aviation research before moving into autonomy.
[05:17] Derek Meier discusses early research into maritime domain awareness, uncrewed surface vessels, and a demonstration in Hawaii that helped identify new Coast Guard applications.
[08:34] How uncrewed aircraft and surface vessels can work together, with lessons from a demonstration off the coast of Puerto Rico.
[11:32] Testing autonomous technology along the Maine-Canada border to improve maritime awareness and help Coast Guard personnel focus their enforcement efforts.
[14:21] Using AI and automated target recognition to reduce information overload, identify potential threats, and ease the workload on Coast Guard watchstanders.
[17:25] Adapting technology developed for defense applications to support Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue and maritime law enforcement.
[20:32] Why reliable sensor data, automated analysis, and reducing the need for constant operator supervision are central to autonomy research.
[24:02] Introducing RIPTIDE and its focus on collaborative autonomy, connecting uncrewed systems, and developing capabilities the Coast Guard can put to use.
[27:36] Testing autonomous technology under realistic conditions to identify limitations, evaluate performance, and guide further development.
[30:15] Building a framework that allows the Coast Guard to integrate autonomous systems, share information, and move research into operational use.
[33:02] How AI could learn from mission data, recognize changing patterns, and improve decisions based on conditions in different operational areas.
[36:01] Partnering with the Navy, Marine Corps, and other research organizations to share expertise, coordinate technology development, and avoid duplicating efforts.
[39:32] Moving autonomy into the field through secure systems and tools such as the Tactical Awareness Kit, which can deliver information directly to responding crews.
[42:48] Involving Coast Guard operators in research and testing to make sure new technology addresses practical needs and can be used aboard cutters.
[45:39] How RIPTIDE has adapted to funding and procurement challenges, and why flexibility and persistence matter when developing new technology.
[48:20] Lessons from earlier demonstrations in Brownsville, Texas, and the importance of making sure successful research can transition into Coast Guard operations.
[50:53] How industry partners can connect with the Coast Guard Research and Development Center through research inquiries, technology solicitations, and procurement opportunities.
Resources:
United States Coast Guard - RDT&E
