Title: Manager of Operations
Company: Sound & Sea Systems
Location: Seabeck, Washington, United States
Commander Steve A. McLaughlin, USN (Ret.), MA, Manager of Operations at Sound & Sea Systems, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Executives for dedication, achievements and leadership in Homeland Security and Counter-Terrorism.
Mr. McLaughlin has established a distinguished career spanning more than four decades, marked by leadership in military service, ocean engineering, security and emergency management. Since 2019, he has served as the manager of operations at Sound & Sea Systems, now Oceanetics Inc., where he oversees field operations, site preparation and assessment for complex ocean engineering projects. His responsibilities include scheduling divers, boats and ships, gathering global intelligence, and tracking developments related to undersea and seafloor systems. He also ensures proper equipment deployment through regular field visits. In this capacity, Mr. McLaughlin played a pivotal role in developing an interoperable communications assistance program for tribal emergency management and policing departments across Washington state, significantly upgrading their communication systems to modern standards.
Before serving in his leading role, Mr. McLaughlin demonstrated his expertise in homeland security as a systems engineer at Oceanetics Inc. from 2020 to 2025, where he advanced undersea technology and security solutions and developed counterterrorism and emergency preparedness strategies. During his tenure with the defense and space manufacturing organization, Mr. McLaughlin also served as a principal senior program manager at GeosoundNW in the Puget Sound area, managing large-scale projects focused on marine technology and defense between 2019 and 2025.
From 2017 to 2025, Mr. McLaughlin was employed by Complete Threat Preparedness, Inc., as a lead consultant for physical security program management and engineering, providing expert guidance on security protocols and risk mitigation strategies. He was also a master training specialist in emergency management and firearms training during this time, where he notably trained thousands of first responders in California’s Incident Command System program. Leveraging his expertise, Mr. McLaughlin spent nearly two decades as a certified firearms instructor and personal protection consultant in the Greater Seattle area between 2006 and 2025, providing specialized training in personal safety and security.
Among other notable roles, Mr. McLaughlin was an instructor at ESCA Engineering from 2006 to 2011 and an engineer at Sound and Sea Technology between 2006 and 2009. Additionally, he gained classroom experience as an instructor of naval science at the University of Colorado Boulder for several years, where he educated future leaders in maritime operations and strategy.
Mr. McLaughlin’s military service has been a cornerstone of his professional journey. As a commander in the U.S. Navy from 1980 to 2006, he was deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo and the Middle East. He played a significant role in the Balkans peace process while assigned to the U.S. European Command’s Plans and Policy Department. Responsible for Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Serbia, he monitored activities aimed at ending regional conflicts and kept the Pentagon informed through coordination with personnel on the ground. Mr. McLaughlin’s work included escorting high-level officials, including the chief of staff to the Speaker of the House and a retired four-star general, during visits to the region.
Mr. McLaughlin’s academic background has been integral to his success across diverse fields. He earned a Bachelor of Science in biology with a focus on health from the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1980, a Master of Science in international affairs at Royal Naval College in Greenwich, England, in 1991, and a Master of Arts in national security and strategy from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport in 2003.
Beyond his professional commitments, Mr. McLaughlin is dedicated to civic engagement as a founding member of Liberty Disaster Relief since 2015, where he has received several Governor’s Awards for outstanding service contributions. He also serves as an instructor for Rotary Youth Leadership Academy through Rotary International and volunteers at local hospitals. Additionally, Mr. McLaughlin is an active member of Kiwanis International, the Wenatchee Rotary Club, the American Alpine Club, the Marine Technology Society and the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition, and is a patrol director for the National Ski Patrol.
Mr. McLaughlin is recognized for his scholarly contributions, including authoring papers on Al Qaeda command control, financing, harbor defense and melting sea ice. He also contributed works for the Oceans Program through the Marine Technical Society.
Attributing his achievements to his leadership philosophy, which includes listening to team members while knowing when to direct or follow, Mr. McLaughlin values genuine connections with colleagues as essential for effective leadership. Looking ahead, he intends to continue working while pursuing new adventures guided by his belief that passion transforms work into lifelong fulfillment.
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