Houston-based BroCoTec has hired former NASA network engineer Corey Harris to support the company’s maritime IT and cybersecurity work as vessel operators expand shipboard connectivity.
Harris worked on network upgrades supporting the International Space Station and NASA’s mission control center in Houston, according to BroCoTec. Before joining NASA, he spent more than a decade developing drone technology at Northrop Grumman.
BroCoTec President and CEO Nathaniel Kemberling said the hire is part of the company’s effort to expand its technical staff as marine operators make greater use of always-connected vessel networks while facing increased cybersecurity risks.
Harris said advances in satellite communications are giving vessels access to many of the network capabilities traditionally associated with shore-based offices.
“Satcomms systems like Starlink and Inmarsat’s NexusWave are redefining maritime by providing 24-hour internet connectivity with all the infrastructure and functionality of a corporate office,” Harris said.
That connectivity can support remote troubleshooting, vessel monitoring, communications with shore personnel and crew internet access, Harris said. Shipboard sensors can also transmit engine performance, fuel consumption and structural load data for shoreside analysis and predictive maintenance.
The expansion of connected systems, however, also increases the importance of securing vessel networks, Harris said.
“At BroCoTec we are laser-focused on cybersecurity,” he said. “There is no cookie-cutter solution as everyone’s needs are different.”
BroCoTec said its work includes secure network design, network segmentation and IT support for vessels, workboats and remote operating sites. Its maritime services also cover satellite and remote connectivity, endpoint protection, identity controls, threat detection and incident response.
The hire comes as vessel and facility operators subject to U.S. Coast Guard maritime security regulations move through phased implementation of new federal cybersecurity requirements. The Coast Guard’s Cybersecurity in the Marine Transportation System rule took effect in July 2025. Among other requirements, affected owners and operators must designate a cybersecurity officer, conduct a cybersecurity assessment and submit a cybersecurity plan for approval by July 16, 2027.
BroCoTec was founded in 2019 and provides IT infrastructure and cybersecurity services from its Houston headquarters.
