Robert Christ
About Robert Christ
Robert D. Christ is President, SeaTrepid Operations at Nauticus Robotics (KITT), appointed concurrent with Nauticus’ acquisition of SeaTrepid on March 20, 2025; he founded SeaTrepid in 2003 and co‑founded micro‑ROV maker VideoRay. Christ is an FAA‑licensed Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Public Accountant, co‑author of “The ROV Manual,” and chairs the ROV Committee for the Marine Technology Society. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Aviation and Accounting from Louisiana Tech University . Company‑level performance metrics (TSR, revenue/EBITDA growth) tied specifically to Christ’s tenure are not disclosed in filings; Nauticus noted Q2 2025 revenue of $2.1M and sequential growth expectations, but without executive‑specific attribution .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| SeaTrepid International | President/Founder | 2003–2025 | Built subsea robotics services; assets became core to Nauticus after acquisition |
| VideoRay | Co‑founder | Not disclosed | Advanced micro‑ROV commercialization; industry influence |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Technology Society (MTS) | Chairman, ROV Committee | Not disclosed | Standards leadership and industry initiatives in ROV operations |
| Publishing | Co‑author, “The ROV Manual” | Not disclosed | Technical knowledge dissemination; industry training/reference |
Fixed Compensation
- No individual base salary, target bonus, or actual bonus for Robert Christ is disclosed in Nauticus’ 2025 proxy or other filings reviewed. The 2024 NEO tables cover the CEO, CTO, General Counsel, and former executives, not Christ .
Performance Compensation
- No Christ‑specific RSU/PSU or option grants, strike prices, vesting schedules, or performance metrics are individually disclosed. Plan‑level usage indicates “Other Executive Officers” collectively received 42,798 full‑value awards in 2025 YTD; allocation among executives is not detailed .
| Long‑Term Incentive Plan Usage | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 YTD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Full‑Value Awards (shares) | 32,936 | 235,556 | 252,798 |
| Allocation to “Other Executive Officers” (shares, %) | 5,087 (15%) | — (0%) | 42,798 (17%) |
- Company clawback policy (Dodd‑Frank restatement recoupment) adopted Nov 7, 2023 applies to performance‑based pay; the 2024 restatements did not trigger recovery as incentive plans were unaffected .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Total beneficial ownership for Robert Christ is not listed in the 2025 beneficial ownership tables; directors and certain executives are shown, but Christ is not enumerated individually .
- Anti‑hedging and anti‑pledging: Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging by directors, officers, and employees; Company disclosed that none of current executives/directors have pledged or hedged company stock .
- Stock ownership guidelines and compliance status for Christ are not disclosed.
Employment Terms
- Role: President, SeaTrepid Operations at Nauticus Robotics effective at acquisition close (Mar 20, 2025) .
- Contract terms, severance, non‑compete, change‑of‑control provisions for Christ are not disclosed. Company‑level Executive Severance Plan currently applies only to the CEO .
- SeaTrepid acquisition economics (Selling Persons included Robert D. Christ): earn‑out shares and deferred cash consideration; individual allocations among Selling Persons not disclosed.
| SeaTrepid Acquisition Consideration | Amount | Timing/Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Cash at closing | $4,000,000 | Mar 20, 2025 |
| Cash payable | $4,000,000 | On or before Sep 30, 2025 |
| Earn‑Out Shares (aggregate) | $5,500,000 | Based on earn‑out thresholds during measurement period (closing to 6 months post‑close) |
| Liabilities assumed | $2,500,000 | At closing |
| Selling Persons | Included Robert D. Christ | Signatory to APA Amendment |
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Christ’s founder‑operator background and continued leadership of SeaTrepid Operations post‑acquisition indicate operational continuity and domain expertise in subsea robotics; anti‑hedging/pledging policy reduces alignment risk .
- Incentives visibility: Lack of disclosed individual cash/equity compensation or performance metrics limits pay‑for‑performance assessment; plan‑level awards to “Other Executive Officers” suggest equity participation but not executive‑specific alignment .
- Potential selling pressure: Earn‑out consideration paid in common stock to Selling Persons could create overhang as shares vest based on earn‑out thresholds; specifics by individual and vesting cadence are not disclosed .
- Retention risk: Absence of publicly filed employment agreement terms (severance, non‑compete, change‑of‑control) for Christ increases uncertainty around retention protections; reliance on role continuity post‑deal .
- Execution: Christ’s industry roles (MTS ROV Committee), publications, and dual technical/financial credentials (ATP, CPA) support execution capability in integrating service assets and scaling operations; however, company‑level financing structures (Series A/B Preferred, potential dilution) and listing compliance history impact broader equity risk‑reward independent of executive performance .