New Chair Elect

SUT US Announces Luz Zarate as Incoming Chair for 2027
by Mariana Diaz

Houston, TX — The Society for Underwater Technology – U.S. Branch (SUT US) is pleased to announce the appointment of Luz Zarate as the incoming SUT US Chair for 2027. Ms. Zarate will work alongside current Chair Andy Hill throughout 2026 in a shadowing capacity and will formally begin her term in January 2027.

Ms. Zarate is a Metocean Engineer at Shell, bringing eight years of experience supporting offshore operations, ocean observing systems, technology development, and digital innovation. She oversees Shell’s metocean program in the Gulf of Mexico, providing guidance on weather related operational impacts to help ensure safe and reliable offshore activities.

In addition to her technical responsibilities, Ms. Zarate has an established record of leadership within the industry. She is a Fellow of the Society for Underwater Technology (SUT) and has been actively involved in SUT US initiatives, the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), and various professional committees and task forces. Her work has been recognized with multiple industry awards for technical contributions, leadership, and innovation.

SUT US looks forward to Ms. Zarate’s leadership and continued contributions to the organization and the broader underwater technology community.