Jeffery Leleux serves as President, bringing more than 30 years of experience delivering advanced maritime and defense solutions to U.S. and international clients. With a career spanning engineering, production, business development, and executive leadership, Jeff is known for his ability to drive complex programs from concept through completion.
Prior to his current role, Jeff was President of Swiftships LLC, where he led over $1 billion in successful contracts with the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and numerous foreign partners. He was instrumental in securing and delivering major programs such as the LCU 1700, Bahrain patrol boats, the Egypt 28-meter co-production initiative, and unmanned surface vessel platforms developed with L3Harris. Jeff also worked closely with the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (OUSD) on emerging maritime initiatives, including platforms aligned with the DoD’s Replicator program.
Jeff has delivered vessels and managed programs in over 50 countries, with extensive experience operating in regions including the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. His leadership in scaling production—such as growing a workforce from 60 to over 600 staff in under a year—has proven his ability to align technical execution with mission-critical deadlines and budgets.
With a B.S. in Industrial Manufacturing Systems Engineering from Louisiana State University, Jeff continues to guide the organization with a focus on innovation, quality, and strategic growth in both defense and commercial maritime sectors.
Sean Biddle serves as Chief Executive Officer of Gulf Coast Tactical, where he leads the company’s vision to deliver affordable, adaptable, and scalable unmanned maritime systems. With over eight years of experience in aerospace and systems engineering, Sean has built a career at the forefront of autonomy, communications, and platform integration for defense applications.
Before founding Gulf Coast Tactical, Sean supported high-level Department of Defense programs as Lead Systems Engineer for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research & Engineering (R&E). In this role, he spearheaded the development of government reference architectures and prototype systems that advanced communications, autonomy, and interoperability across air and maritime platforms. His leadership in programs such as the Low-Cost Unmanned Aerial Systems (LUCAS) initiative helped shape next-generation approaches to affordable autonomy.
As CEO, Sean brings a systems engineer’s discipline and an innovator’s vision to Gulf Coast Tactical. He is committed to building the company into a leader in unmanned maritime systems by combining engineering excellence with a focus on real-world mission outcomes. Under his leadership, GCT is developing the RS1.1 autonomy stack and advanced platform architectures designed to enable collaborative, multi-vessel operations, bridging the gap between today’s requirements and tomorrow’s maritime battlefields.
Sean is recognized for his ability to translate emerging technologies into operationally ready solutions while building strong teams, partnerships, and customer trust. His vision is to position Gulf Coast Tactical at the forefront of a rapidly evolving market, ensuring that unmanned systems are not only more capable but also more accessible and cost-effective for those who need them most.
Miles Thomas is a third-generation shipbuilder with deep roots in the Gulf Coast maritime industry. From working in his father’s boat rental business to leading the design of cutting-edge naval vessels, Miles has dedicated his career to advancing vessel design, construction, and innovation.
He holds a degree in engineering from Louisiana State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.). Early in his career, Miles owned and operated a shipyard constructing vessels up to 175 feet, meeting U.S. Coast Guard and multiple class certifications. He later served as a naval architect for the world’s leading designer of Fast Support Vessels (FSVs) and catamarans under 160 feet.
Miles brings unmatched technical expertise across all marine trades and vessel systems—from structural design and hydrodynamics to regulatory compliance and production. His leadership has extended into national defense programs, where he served as Engineering Manager for a U.S. Navy portfolio that included two Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) prototype vessels and a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) Program of Record.
As part of his work in autonomous vessel development, Miles led the specification and design of the largest U.S. Government-owned unmanned surface vessel to date. He authored the first-of-its-kind “Regulatory Matrix,” working with ABS and the U.S. Coast Guard to define a new framework for autonomous vessels—redefining legacy standards built around manned operations.
He also served as Ship Design Manager (SDM) and Integrated Program Team (IPT) lead for the U.S. Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) program, the Navy’s first full-sized, fully autonomous ship program of record.
Today, Miles continues to push the boundaries of naval architecture, combining deep tradition with future-facing innovation.
Scott Poe serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Gulf Coast Tactical, bringing over a decade of experience in advanced software engineering, command-and-control (C2) systems, and unmanned systems integration. With a strong background in both leadership and technical execution, Scott drives the development of GCT’s autonomy stack and platform-agnostic middleware solutions that enable scalable, adaptable maritime operations.
Prior to joining Gulf Coast Tactical, Scott led software teams at Integration Innovation Inc. and Dynetics, where he was instrumental in architecting and integrating C2 systems for unmanned aerial systems (UAS) under major defense programs. He has extensive expertise in STANAG 4586, MAVLink, and modular C2 architectures, with a proven track record of collaborating across vendors, platforms, and payloads.
Earlier in his career at the Center for Advanced Public Safety, Scott designed and developed secure, large-scale software systems for government clients, including identity and access management solutions and mission-critical data-sharing platforms.
Scott holds both a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Alabama. His leadership ensures Gulf Coast Tactical remains at the forefront of delivering reliable, mission-driven unmanned solutions.
Rachel Hoffman serves as Director of Resource Management at Gulf Coast Tactical, where she oversees the planning, procurement, and management of resources that support the company’s engineering, production, and operational missions. She brings more than eight years of expertise in logistics and operations, having built her career across the U.S. Army, aerospace, defense, and healthcare sectors.
An Army veteran, Rachel managed logistics operations and equipment readiness valued at over $10 million, coordinating budgets, contracts, and sustainment programs to ensure mission success. In industry, she has supported programs for the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Research & Engineering) and Northrop Grumman, where she administered IT asset portfolios worth millions of dollars, managed procurement and vendor relationships, and implemented process improvements across federal contracts. Her experience includes asset management, supply chain operations, and logistics coordination for both UAS/USV platforms and advanced defense technologies.
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts from Huntingdon College and an MBA in Operations and Supply Chain Management from Ohio University. She has also completed specialized military training in logistics and ordnance leadership. Known for her ability to optimize resources, streamline processes, and support complex technical programs, Rachel plays a key role in ensuring Gulf Coast Tactical delivers on its mission with efficiency and precision
Our vessels operate in waters around the globe
A legacy of excellence in maritime defense across the globe
Original Swift Boat designs developed by Sewart Seacraft, with Calvin LeLeux’s involvement
Jeff begins career as design engineer for mechanical and electrical systems
Major contracts with Egypt, Iraq, Dominican Republic, and Bahrain
Formation of Gulf Coast Tactical to advance unmanned platforms and next-gen patrol boats
We collaborate with industry leaders to deliver cutting-edge maritime defense solutions
See how our vessels transform from concept to operational reality
Every vessel begins with meticulous design optimized for its mission profile
Our New Iberia, LA facility enables rapid, high-quality manufacturing
Every vessel undergoes extensive sea trials before deployment
Our vessels operate in challenging environments worldwide