Michael Ulica is the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer of the Ocean Exploration Trust, which he joined in 2025 to help advance the organization’s mission of ocean discovery, education, and technological innovation. He brings more than two decades of leadership in exploration, conservation, and mission‑driven strategy.
Before joining OET, Michael spent 18 years at the National Geographic Society, serving as President, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Financial Officer. He helped guide a global strategy that invested in bold scientists, explorers, educators, and storytellers, ensuring their work reached and inspired audiences around the world. In recognition of his lasting impact through media and mission‑driven collaborations, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2024.
Michael played a central role in launching National Geographic Partners with The Walt Disney Company, expanding the reach of National Geographic’s storytelling worldwide. As interim CEO, he also forged a landmark collaboration with the Royal Canadian Geographical Society to support emerging explorers in Canada—earning him recognition as a Fellow and Gold Medal awardee by the RCGS.
He currently serves on the boards of ConservAmerica, the Ocean Exploration Trust, Great Plains Conservation, and the Columbia University School of Professional Studies. He is also a member of The Explorers Club and the George Washington University Alliance for a Sustainable Future. Earlier in his career, he held senior financial leadership roles at Discovery Communications and Time Inc.
A graduate of Virginia Tech, Michael lives with his wife, Sarah, on a horse farm in Maryland, where they continue to support conservation and community initiatives close to home and around the world.