O U R   T E A M

We’re a team of marine scientists, ocean engineers, and entrepreneurs with a passion for fixing a broken planet.

Tom Chi
Founder, Board Member

Founder Tom Chi is a pioneer in rapid prototyping, holding 75 patents and influencing processes at over a dozen leading companies, including Microsoft and Yahoo. As a co-founder and Head of Product Experience at Google X, he spearheaded developments in Google Glass and autonomous vehicles.

Christopher Oakes
CEO

In 2023, Reefgen began its focus on commercialization with the hire of Chris, who brings 20 years of corporate, startup, and venture capital experience in sustainable ocean technologies. As a marine biologist, he worked with the Vantuna Research Group, focused on environmental monitoring, artificial reefs, and ecosystem modeling.

Daniel Hennage
CTO

Daniel is a seasoned technologist and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience. As VP of Robotics at Farm(x), Dan adapted drone autonomy to off-road vehicles, enabling precision agriculture in vineyards. As Founder and CEO of AutoModality, he revolutionized industrial inspection with drone autonomy for GPS-denied environments.

Nastasia Winey
Robotics Engineer

Nastasia brings experience in robotics and biomechanics with specific focus on hydrodynamic principles. Winey boasts an extensive academic background, with research experience from Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, MIT, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Virginia Polytechnic University.

Young Park
Mechanical Engineer

Young joins Reefgen with a deep background in mechanical and software engineering for multiple applications. With prior experiences at Apple, Amyris, IBM, and NASA Ames Research Center, Young aims to integrate his past experiences seamlessly into the marine restoration space. Park is a graduate of San Jose State University.

Nathan L’Esperance
Staff Biologist

Nate is a recent graduate from Grinnell College, where he studied environmental science. At the Coe College Wilderness Field Station, Nate gained experience in aquatic biology and agricultural science. His research interests include aquatic and marine ecology, sustainable crop management, and historical climate change dynamics.