He is a Virginia native. He earned a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Coast
Guard Academy, a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan, a master's degree
in naval architecture and marine engineering from the University of Michigan, a master's degree in electrical
and computer engineering from Johns Hopkins University, and a doctorate in systems engineering from the George
Washington University.
Douglas served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect, salvage engineer, damage control assistant,
and officer of the deck. He most recently was a senior staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied
Physics Lab, working on maritime robotics, planetary defense, and space exploration missions for NASA.