PNNL

Alicia Mahon, group leader for Operational Systems Engineering at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), has been elected to serve on the board of the Marine Technology Society (MTS). Mahon will serve as the vice president of Publications & Communications.

MTS is an international society that promotes awareness and advancement of marine technology by bringing together businesses, institutions, professionals, academics, and students. MTS also publishes a peer-reviewed journal, the Marine Technology Society Journal (of which Mahon serves as editor), and hosts several annual conferences.

As vice president of Publications & Communications, Mahon will be responsible for the publications of the society, including the journal, and will serve as the board liaison to the journal’s editorial board. The term lasts three years and will begin January 1, 2027.

“My love of the ocean brought me to MTS as a college student, and the people and opportunities have kept me involved ever since. Serving as editor has deepened my respect for the journal and the care that goes into sharing research others can trust and build on,” Mahon said. “Joining the board gives me a chance to broaden that impact, help more voices be heard, and connect more people with the work of our marine technology community. I’m excited to bring my enthusiasm and passion for the ocean to this next adventure.”

Mahon organized and coordinated the MTS Buoy Workshop at the PNNL-Sequim campus in 2024. She previously served on the MTS Journal’s editorial board, has edited special issues of the journal, and became its editor in 2021.

At PNNL, Mahon is a group leader and program manager in the Earth Systems Science Division and is currently leading a program to support the Hydropower Testing Network at the Department of Energy. Her research at PNNL has largely focused on deploying marine technology for oceanographic observation and monitoring to support offshore energy development. Mahon earned her PhD in ocean engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology in 2012 and worked at DOE before joining PNNL.