LCDR James Meyers is an Electrical Engineer, Coast Guard Officer, and Educator whose teaching and research interests include robotics, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence and machine learning, sensing and navigation, and electrical power systems. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 2015 and an M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Northeastern University, where his graduate research focused on autonomous surface vessels and field robotics.

Prior to joining the Coast Guard Academy faculty, LCDR Meyers served aboard USCGC ELM and subsequently at the Coast Guard Marine Safety Center (MSC), where he evaluated electrical, automation, control, battery, hybrid-electric, and alternative-energy systems aboard commercial vessels. He later served as Branch Chief of the MSC’s Electrical Engineering Branch, leading a team of twelve engineers.

At the Academy, LCDR Meyers has taught across physics, electrical engineering, computing, robotics, artificial intelligence. His work emphasizes hands-on and interdisciplinary education that connects foundational science and engineering principles to operational Coast Guard problems. He has developed and taught introductory Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning courses, led curriculum modernization in programming and computing, and advised cadet research and capstone projects involving autonomous surface vehicles, robotics, hydrogen and hybrid power systems, computer vision, and applied machine learning.

His research interests center on field robotics and autonomous systems operating in complex maritime environments, including perception, remote sensing, multi-sensor navigation, computer vision, machine learning, and resilient autonomy. His graduate work developed a Collision Regulations (COLREGS)-compliant autonomous surface vessel and was subsequently published in the Journal of Field Robotics. He has also conducted unmanned aircraft research aboard USCGC HEALY, using aerial photogrammetry to survey Arctic sea ice.

Education

• M.S., Electrical and Computer Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, 2019
• B.S., Electrical Engineering, United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, 2015

Courses Taught

• Physics 2
• Principles of Programming (POP)
• Transition to Object-Oriented Programming (TOOP)
• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
• Electrical Circuits and Machines (EC&M)
• Electrical Engineering I Laboratory (EE1)
• Digital Circuits and Computer Systems (DCCS)
• Electrical Engineering Capstone Design
• Undergraduate Research and Directed Studies in Robotics, Autonomous Systems, and Artificial Intelligence

Research Interests

• Robotics and autonomous systems
• Autonomous surface, aerial, and underwater vehicles
• Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)
• Computer vision and robotic perception
• Sensing, navigation, and multi-sensor fusion
• Maritime autonomy and Collision Regulations (COLREGS)
• Electrical power, hybrid-electric, and alternative-energy systems
• Applied and interdisciplinary engineering education

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Jonathan T. Prince, John Rex A. Gaviola, Sontino Allentuck, Jeffrey E. Hartung, Tooran Emami, Daniel Burke, and James Meyers (2025), “Intelligent Hybrid Power Plant for Marine Hydrogen Fuel Cell Integration,” 2025 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference & Exposition.
• James C. Meyers, Thomas Sayre-McCord, Zhiyong Zhang, and Hanumant Singh (2024), “Toward a COLREGs Compliant Autonomous Surface Vessel in a Constrained Channel,” IEEE Transactions on Field Robotics, Vol. 1, pp. 537–547.
• James Meyers (2022), “COLREGS and Autonomous Surface Vessels,” Proceedings: The Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Vol. 79, No. 1.
• James C. Meyers and Tooran Emami (2018), “Functional Design for a Robust Dynamic Position & Data Acquisition System,” Proceedings of the 2018 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
• James Meyers, Adam Hoburg, Tooran Emami, Peter F. Swaszek, Richard Hartnett, and Paul Crilly (2015), “A Capstone Project on Robust Dynamic Positioning and Data Acquisition Systems,” Proceedings of the 2015 ASEE Northeast Section Conference, Boston, Massachusetts; awarded 2nd Prize for Best Student Paper.

Certifications

• Professional Engineer (PE), Electrical and Computer: Power, Maryland
• Harvard Higher Education Teaching Certificate
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 Remote Pilot

Honors and Awards

• U.S. Coast Guard Commendation Medal
• Department of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit Award
• U.S. Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal
• Humanitarian Service Medal
• U.S. Coast Guard Unit Commendation
• U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations
• U.S. Coast Guard Letter of Commendation

Professional Affiliations

• Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
• Licensed Professional Engineer