Our Team

Ocean Exchange Board Member Team

Bill Merz

Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy (retired)

Bachelor’s degree in Ocean Engineering (merit) from the U.S. Naval Academy. Master’s degrees from The Catholic University and Naval War College.

MIT’s Seminar XXI and Virginia’s Darden School on Strategic Thinking. Member of the Council on Foreign Relations, serves in several defense advisory and board positions. Recently retired from the Navy and accepted a position with Entergy in Houston.

Three positions at the Navy 3-star level. Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet, “Chief Requirements Officer” (OPNAV N9), “Chief Operating Officer” (OPNAV N3N5). Authored Navy/Marine Corps Warfighting Concepts and maritime elements of the National Defense Strategy, Nuclear Posture Review and Navy’s “Blue Arctic. Senior Navy liaison for AUKUS.

Career submariner, commanded the nuclear deep-sea vessel (DSV) Submarine NR-1, the attack submarine USS Memphis (SSN 691), and Submarine Development Squadron 12. Served as Chief Engineer aboard USS Boise (SSN 764) and for 3-years headed the Naval Reactors Line Locker.

Over the course of twelve global deployments his crews earned eight unit awards, five Battle “E”s, was recognized as the top ship in the fleet and completed the fastest ever under-ice polar transit. Swims, surfs, golfs.

Honorary Navy Chief Petty Officer.

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Ocean Exchange invites you to learn more about Awards Program, our ecosystem and success of our award winners and participants. Together, we can chart a powerful course to help ensure the future of our oceans and the Blue Economy.

Testimonials

“The delegates are a very strategically chosen body of individuals. Virtually everyone who attends Ocean Exchange has the capacity to open doors.”

“When you bring an eclectic mix of highly intelligent, passionate people together, that’s when lightning strikes.”

“Ocean Exchange is entirely different from any of the other organizations that I’m involved in. It is about sustainable innovation. I think it’s also very different in the extremely broad range of stakeholders that it involves.”