Meet the Team
Nicholas J LaBry
Mr. LaBry founded Prometheus Innovations, LLC in October of 2018 for the purpose of providing science and technology consulting services. Nicholas holds the position of principal partner and chief scientist within the organization.
From 2018 to mid-2019 he worked as a consultant in the development of an innovation of a 3-D point-cloud signal processing methodology for sonar data, and has worked on the development of an unmanned surface vehicle for the purpose of sonar surveying.
In 2020, the Prometheus Innovations team led by Nicholas was awarded as winners of two HeroX Innovation Challenges: the Guardians of the Reservoir Challenge and the Fish Protection Challenge. The Guardians of the Reservoir Challenge innovation is an autonomous, robotic sediment management system, while the Fish Protection Challenge innovation is a method of enhancing the material composition of fish guidance and barrier netting systems to provide acoustic visibility.
Mr. LaBry holds a Master of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Science with a focus in power electronics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Nicholas has been trained in the design, characterization, and fundamental fabrication processes of semiconductor devices (Diodes, MOSFET’s, BIT’s). While studying there, he performed simulation and characterization of specially engineered 30kV PiN 4H-SiC diodes designed for light-pulse switching. Another project under his purview was the development of an analytical device model for the reverse recovery of ultra-high voltage PiN diodes.
Mr. LaBry received Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, Physics, and Chemistry from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. As an undergraduate, he researched the phenomena of triboluminescence and its applications, as well as the characteristics of coordination complexes for molecular magnet implementations. Mr. LaBry has an associated academic publication: Massoud, S., Louka, F., David, R., Dartez, M., Nguyn, Q., LaBry, N., Fischer, R. and Mautner, F. (2015). Five-coordinate metal(II) complexes based pyrazolyl ligands. Polyhedron, 90, pp. 258-265. He was a member of the four-person competition robotics team for the IEEE Region 5 Robot Competition and was awarded 1st Place. Nicholas holds membership with the following professional organizations: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the American Chemical Society, and The New York Academy of Sciences.
Kenneth J LaBry
Mr. LaBry joined Prometheus Innovations, LLC as the senior partner and science and technology advisor in 2019. He is a physicist with over 40 years of experience which includes 33 years in underwater acoustic remote sensing. Within that field, he directed numerous substructure inspections, site assessments, hydrographic investigations, and geophysical investigations. He has developed remote-controlled robotic deployment platforms and autonomous deployment platforms for remote sensing instrumentation. Kenneth is a pioneer in the development and application of remote sensing systems for submerged structure inspections.
In 2020, the Prometheus Innovations team was awarded as winners of two HeroX Innovation Challenges: the Guardians of the Reservoir Challenge and the Fish Protection Challenge. The Guardians of the Reservoir Challenge innovation is an autonomous, robotic sediment management system, while the Fish Protection Challenge innovation is a method of enhancing the material composition of fish guidance and barrier netting systems to provide acoustic visibility.
Kenneth was formerly the Chief Scientist and Acoustics Market Leader for Underwater Acoustic International, L.L.C., a subsidiary of C.H. Fenstermaker & Associates, L.L.C. for 15 years. Prior to his association with C.H. Fenstermaker, he held the position of Marine Technology Advisor for Fugro Chance USA for 18 years.
Kenneth is the recipient of the 2007 and the 2009 Louisiana Transportation Excellence Award for Use of an Innovative Product or Technology and the 2006 Society of American Military Engineers Technology Advancement Medal. He serves on multiple committees for the Marine Technology Society and the New York Academy of Sciences and is an advisor in renewable energy and energy harvesting. Kenneth is a frequent guest speaker on underwater remote sensing and innovative energy technologies. In addition, he has authored numerous articles with regards to remote sensing technologies and holds patents for acoustic remote sensing processes and near-infrared radio frequency imaging and spectroscopy.
Mr. LaBry has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. While there, he conducted research with the NASA Joint Observatory for Cometary Research developing and fabricating a remote-controlled shutter system for the comet telescope. He also developed and constructed the apparatus for hypersensitization of photographic plates utilizing high temperature treatment in a pure nitrogen environment. Kenneth worked with the Irving Langmuir Atmospheric Research Laboratory, the Digitized Astronomy Project, and the Muon Neutrino Detection Project.
Mr. LaBry is a member of The New York Academy of Sciences, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the Marine Technology Society, the American Physical Society, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Hydrographic Society of America. He serves on various committees for The New York Academy of Sciences and the Marine Technology Society.