Rear Admiral Lorin Selby is a General Partner at Mare Liberum, where he joined the investment team in 2024. Mare Liberum is a venture growth fund investing at the intersection of critical technologies and the maritime domain, backing founders building across national security modernization, emerging ocean platforms, and global trade resilience — with the conviction that oceans are infrastructure and maritime dominance must be rebuilt. He brings nearly 37 years of submarine warfare experience, retiring as a two-star admiral in 2023. 

Selby culminated his naval career as the Navy's 26th Chief of Naval Research (2020–2023), leading 3,800 personnel and overseeing a $4 billion portfolio of advanced technology development for the Navy and Marine Corps. In that role, he established the Navy's Hedge Strategy — calling for thousands of small, attritable, unmanned systems to augment the existing battle force — and launched the Integrated Battle Problem series, enabling industry and government laboratories to demonstrate capabilities in operationally relevant environments. 

As a flag officer, he served as Commander, Naval Surface Warfare Centers (2014–2016), leading more than 17,000 scientists, engineers, and technicians across eight divisions, and as the Navy's Chief Engineer at Naval Sea Systems Command (2016–2020), holding technical authority over the design, maintenance, and modernization of the entire fleet. 

Earlier in his career, Selby commanded the nuclear fast attack submarine USS GREENEVILLE (SSN 772), managed two major submarine program offices, and served as Deputy Director of the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs. 

Since retiring, he advised small and mid-sized technology companies as a consultant before joining Mare Liberum. 

Selby holds a B.S. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia and an M.S. and Nuclear Engineer degree from MIT.