Richard A. Mueller is a maritime executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience spanning corporate management, vessel operations, engineering oversight, and regulatory compliance.
As Founder and President/CEO of NETSCo, Inc. (est. 1984), Richard has led the company in delivering naval architecture, marine engineering, regulatory compliance, and operational support services across the Great Lakes, inland waterways, coastal, and international markets. His experience includes overall corporate leadership as well as project management in both owner’s representative and hands-on technical oversight roles.
Richard’s operational background is extensive. He has direct experience in vessel operations, crewing and personnel management, traffic and dispatch coordination, ship repair and maintenance oversight, and emergency response. He has led and supported crisis management efforts involving vessel groundings, major mechanical casualties, on-scene investigations, and oil spill response.
Prior to founding NETSCo, Richard worked in the marine division of Hyde Products, Inc. (1979–1984), where he specialized in marine chemicals, parts, and equipment sales — building the operational and commercial foundation that would later inform his consulting and engineering work.
Richard is also a co-founder and majority owner of Choice Ballast Solutions, a consulting and advisory firm focused on ballast water management (BWM) compliance. He holds eight U.S. and international patents and is the inventor/designer of the Nutech O3 Mark III Ballast Water Management System. The system received IMO Type Approval and Flag State approval in Korea and was later commercialized under NK O3 as the Blue Ballast System. He brings deep expertise in BWMS design, installation, testing, commissioning, startup, and lifecycle service support.
A member of SNAME since 1979, Richard currently serves as President (2025–2026) of the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. Over the years, he has held numerous other elected leadership roles within the organization, including six terms as Chair of the Great Lakes/Great Rivers Section, six years as Vice President of Planning and Public Policy, six years as Functional Vice President of Membership, and more than 20 years of service on both the SNAME Council and Executive Committee.
Richard is also a longstanding member of the U.S. Propeller Club (Cleveland, OH and Tampa, FL), an elected Member of the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), and serves on the ABS Great Lakes Members Committee.