President
BLUE OPS

B. Barrett (Barry) Hinckley is a tech entrepreneur and third-generation boat builder, serving as President of Blue Ops, the Marine USV division of Red Cat Holdings. He brings a unique combination of experience in software, marine manufacturing, and defense innovation.

In 1999, Barry co-founded and was President of Bullhorn Software, one of the nation’s first and leading SaaS CRM platforms, pioneering the cloud-based business solutions movement. Earlier in his career, he worked in the family’s Hinckley boatbuilding business, where he participated in all aspects of production, service, delivery, and sales, including early testing of water jet propulsion systems.

Barry held a USCG Licensed Merchant Mariner’s Certificate for 27 years and had a successful career as an accomplished off-shore sailor. Barry has also held leading roles in aviation management and marine digital charting, industries relevant to the USV and UAV markets. 

Today at Blue Ops, Barry leads the mission to deliver next-generation unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to military and government customers worldwide, combining advanced autonomy with proven marine engineering. His leadership bridges the gap between traditional craftsmanship and cutting-edge technology.

Senior Vice President
BLUE OPS

Although Alexander “Sandy” Spaulding has been in the recreational, commercial and defense boat business for almost 30 years, he brings a unique combination of operations, private equity and legal experience to any endeavor he gets involved with.

He started his career in the boat business when his private equity firm, Bain, Willard Companies, purchased the Hinckley Company from the Hinckley family in 1997. The Hinckley Company is America’s premier builders of semi-custom sail and power yachts.  In various roles, including as President of Hinckley Yachts and EVP and CFO of the parent company, Sandy was instrumental in growing Hinckley’s annual sales 4X in four years to over $100 million in annual sales and to over 700 employees. In addition, Sandy was responsible for the development of over 100,000 SF of new production capacity in a greenfield site.

Sandy also co-founded Barton & Gray Mariners Club.  Barton & Gray is now the leading and first of its kind luxury yachting membership club in the United States. After starting the Club with just one boat, it now has a fleet comprising of over 100 Hinckley yachts. The Club also designed and has built over 15 of its own dedicated yachts called the Daychaser (48 ft). Barton & Gray has over 1,000 members paying over $60,000 a year to be a member (on average) and has locations in over 40 high end coastal ports in the United Staes and the Bahamas.

Sandy has also been associated with Hodgdon Shipbuilding in Maine for over fifteen years both as a consultant, President of its Yacht Services division and as a Managing Director of Business Development and Strategy. Hodgdon is the oldest running premier custom boat builder in the United States. Hodgdon has also built boats for the Navy and Air Force, including a prototype composite boat intended to replace the Navy’s Mark V and loaded jet skis (called GARC’s) for the Army to deploy out of C-130 aircraft. Today Hodgdon is also the leading American builder of high-end limousine and other tenders for superyachts.

Mr. Spaulding has also developed an expertise in software applications to operate marine businesses. In various capacities, he was employed by a technology development company, Corvant, with a cloud-based ERP application to operate boat yards.  After that engagement, Sandy was a senior business consultant to another software company, My Taskit, with a cloud based application to connect boat owners, boat yards and boat vendors.

Mr. Spaulding is also the Founder, President and Managing General Partner of Sea Glass Capital Advisors, a Florida-based advisory firm he founded in 2005.  Sea Glass is primarily focused on the marine industry and Sea Glass performed a wide range of engagements, including sales and acquisition of boat companies, business and market plans, and due diligence on boat companies for private equity firms, some of which were noted above.

Immediately prior to running Hinckley, Mr. Spaulding was a principal with the private equity firm of Bain Willard Companies of Boston where he worked directly for Bill Bain and Ralph Willard, two of the founding partners of Bain & Co and Bain Capital. He was responsible for acquisitions and financings.

Prior to working with Bain Willard, Sandy had a distinguished career in corporate and securities law in Boston and New York City, culminating in his position as partner and head of the Corporate Law Group in a prestigious Boston law firm.