The award, presented at the Hilton Southampton Utilita Bowl, recognizes sustained leadership that has strengthened maritime organizations and advanced the capabilities of the Solent’s maritime sector.

Celebrating the award win, Dan said: “It’s a huge honor to have received the Maritime Legacy award, truly unexpected. The maritime industry and the Solent have been a big part of my life since I was a child, playing on the beach in Southsea and going out on a hovercraft with my grandad, and being inspired by Intermarine. My journey took me to study ship science at University of Southampton followed by Seaspeed with Stephen Phillips, and later helping to establish Ocean Infinity in Woolston, working with the National Oceanography Centre, and more recently RAD. I’m really proud to champion maritime in the region and there’s so much more to come.”

Dan’s career in the industry spans more than 25 years starting as a graduate of the University of Southampton, he began by working on the development, testing and trials of specialist craft, where he saw the potential of unmanned systems and went on to specialize in autonomous platform design. As a founding member and Managing Director of ASV Global, he helped pioneer the unmanned surface vessel sector and grew the business from a two-person start-up into a company of 150 people, before its acquisition by L3Harris Technologies. He then served as CTO of Ocean Infinity, where he helped oversee the development of the Armada fleet and was at the forefront of lean-crewed and autonomous operations at sea.

Currently leading RAD from its base at Universal Marina in Sarisbury Green, and under Dan’s direction, the company has developed lightweight, high power-to-weight electric drive and control systems that are now used across commercial, leisure, and defense markets and has expanded internationally with the opening of a US division. RAD’s work is helping the wider industry move away from traditional combustion-based platforms and strengthening the Solent’s reputation as a center for marine technology and electrification.

Dan also served as a Trustee and Director of the National Oceanography Centre in Southampton from 2019–2025, and supports a number of robotics start-ups as a minor investor and board advisor. He is a regular speaker at international events, including Seawork, where he spoke this year, and acted as moderator and session chair for the Uncrewed Vehicles theme at Oceanology International 2026.

Stuart Baker, Chief Executive at Maritime Solent, said: “Congratulations to each of our Maritime Solent Award winners. Behind every award is a story of hard work, perseverance and commitment, and it was wonderful to see those achievements recognized by peers from across the industry. Thank you for the contribution you make to our region and to the continued success of the maritime sector.”