Leadership

Dr. Philipp Stratmann is OPT’s President and Chief Executive Officer, based in the company’s New Jersey headquarters. Philipp joined OPT in December 2019 as Vice President, Global Business Development, bringing with him broad energy industry experience from oil and gas to renewables, both offshore and onshore.

Prior to OPT, Philipp was Vice President, Biofuels, for Velocys, which he joined in 2015 as Business Development Director. He previously served as General Manager Global Development and West Africa for InterMoor and has held leadership positions with Acteon Group and Ernst & Young, in addition to experience with VT Group and Shell.

Philipp is a graduate of the United Kingdom’s University of Southampton, where he received his Engineering Doctorate and his Master of Engineering degree in Ship Science.

Robert Powers is OPT’s Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, based in the company’s New Jersey headquarters. He joined OPT in December 2021 with more than 25 years of experience providing domestic and international leadership to entrepreneurial, privately owned, and founder-led companies, as well as SEC registrants and private equity backed companies.

Prior to OPT, Bob was CFO of Constellation Advisors, a private equity-owned provider of outsourced back-office operations and compliance services. He has held financial leadership roles with Sterling Talent Solutions, Wood Group PPS – a division of Wood Group, GTE, SABIC Innovative Plastics, and Plug Power . He has also provided financial consulting services to various companies.

Bob began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from Fordham University and an MBA in Business Administration from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and he is a Certified Public Accountant.

Jason Weed is a strategic leader and retired U.S. Navy Captain with over 15 years of executive experience driving innovation and growth across maritime and technology-focused organizations. Prior to joining OPT, he served as Senior Business Developer and Capture Manager for Leidos’ Maritime Systems Division.

His 34-year Navy career included multiple senior leadership roles, notably as Commodore of the Navy’s first Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle Squadron (UUVRON ONE), Director of Maritime Operations for Commander Submarine Group TWO, and Commanding Officer of the USS New Hampshire (SSN 778). His leadership advanced operational capabilities introduced AI/ML technologies, and enhanced strategic planning across both submarine and unmanned systems domains.

Jason is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Systems Engineering, and Old Dominion University, where he earned his Master of Science degree in Engineering and Industrial Management.

Tracy Pagliara is OPT’s Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Corporate Secretary, bringing extensive legal, compliance, and executive leadership experience with publicly traded companies in industrial, power, energy and technology end markets. He joined the Company in February 2024 and served as acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary before assuming his current role in January 2025.

Prior to joining the Company, Tracy served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Williams Industrial Services Group, Inc. a publicly traded provider of construction and maintenance infrastructure services to power, energy, and industrial customers. He also held various roles at Global Power Equipment Group, Inc., an energy, power and industrial equipment and services provider and Gardner Denver, Inc., an energy and industrial equipment provider, including General Counsel and other senior leadership positions.

Tracy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and a Juris Doctor from the University of Illinois. He is a Certified Public Accountant (non-active) and is admitted to practice law in the states of Missouri and Illinois.