Sound Metrics Corp was founded in 2002 by engineers Ed Belcher, Bill Hanot, and Joe Burch. They developed acoustic lens sonars at the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington over the previous 10 years as part of a number of federal research contracts. In 2003, Sound Metrics negotiated an exclusive license with the University to make and sell DIDSONTM commercially. In 2004, the company moved to the present site where DIDSONs are designed, built, and tested before being sent to customers around the world. Sound Metrics teams with distributor Ocean Marine Industries who expertly works with customers and handles all sales.

Ed Belcher is president of Sound Metrics. He graduated from Purdue University with a M.S.E.E in 1973 and from the University of Washington with a Ph.D. in 1977. He joined the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, in 1974 and led projects in underwater telemetry, enhancement of speech from divers in an oxygen-helium environment (performed while a visiting scientist in Bergen, Norway), quantification of fish in rivers, and quantification of bubbles in the blood streams of divers as they decompress. He also developed small, high-resolution sonars using acoustic lenses. He taught in the Departments of Electrical Engineering and Speech and Hearing Sciences. In 1997 he won the National Defense Industrial Association Bronze Medal for his development of high-definition sonars.
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Joe Burch is in charge of mechanical design. He graduated from Mississippi State University in 1988 with a B.S.M.E. and worked 3 years as an engineer at the National Center for Physical Acoustics at the University of Mississippi. He joined the Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington in 1992 where he designed the mechanical components and oversaw the fabrication and assembly of DIDSON.
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Bill Hanot is in charge of electronics and software design. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a BS in Naval Architecture and a MS in Ocean Engineering (1980). He joined the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington in 1981. His years of experience at APL/UW included both software and hardware design, with an emphasis in embedded systems for instrumentation, data acquisition and acoustic lens sonar technology. His software experience runs from assembly language programming of microcomputers and DSPs to user interfaces on DOS, WINDOWS, and UNIX platforms. Bill designed the electronics, hardware and software for the Acoustic, Barnacle Imaging System (ABIS), Limpet Mine Imaging Sonar (LIMIS), and the Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON).
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Drew Hubbard joined the staff as office manager in March 2007. He graduated from Washington State University in 2003 with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. Before working with us, he was a general manager for an online development firm in eastern Washington. While in college he managed the sales and distribution of game day programs for Washington State University athletic events.
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Randy Hillquist joined the Sound Metrics team as engineering technician in May 2007. He has an AAS degree in Industrial Control Technology/Robotics. Before coming to Sound Metrics, he worked for Advanced Digital Information Corp. as a customer service repair technician. His primary duties were to repair LAN automated backup systems. He also worked as an engineering tech for Advanced Digital Information Corp. for about 10 years where his duties included proto-typing, component level repair, mechanical repair, technical report writing, embedded firmware testing, GUI testing, thermal testing, lab management and purchasing.
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Pam Belcher works part time as webmaster and graphic designer. She creates the ads, posters, flyers, convention graphics and anything else that needs graphic art attention. She has a Bachelor of Fine Art from Washington State University (1975) and also attended Burnley School of Graphic Design (now Seattle Institute of Art) for further education. When she is not working at Sound Metrics, she designs websites, and is an artist working in the medium of colored pencil. You can see her artwork at www.pamelabelcher.com.
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Sound Metrics headquarters is in Lake Forest Park, a northern suburb of Seattle, Washington.