Thunder Bay Exploration 2002

Biographies of Expedition Team

Dr. Robert D. Ballard, IFE (President)

Dr. Robert D. Ballard is founder and head of the Institute for Exploration (IFE) at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, Connecticut. Specializing in deep-ocean archeology, IFE's goal is to establish this new field of research utilizing evolving technology such as advanced mapping and imaging systems, underwater robotics and manned-submersibles. Another IFE objective is to share Ballard's most recent discoveries with millions of visitors to the Challenge of the Deep, part of a recent $52 million expansion at Mystic Aquarium.

After 30 years Dr. Ballard retired from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in 1997, where he was senior scientist and director of the Center for Marine Exploration. Ballard is also the founder of the JASON Project. JASON was established in 1989 after Ballard received thousands of letters from school children wanting to know how he discovered the R.M.S. Titanic.

Education
Dr. Ballard received his undergraduate degree in Geology and Chemistry from the University of California. He attended graduate school at the University of Southern California, the University of Hawaii's Graduate School of Oceanography and received his Ph.D. in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the University of Rhode Island.

Military Service
Dr. Ballard graduated from the University of California as a distinguished military graduate with a commission in Army Intelligence. Later his commission was transferred to the U.S. Navy and during the Vietnam War he served on active duty as an Ensign, Lt. J.G. and finally as a Lieutenant. Dr. Ballard has rejoined the U.S. Naval Reserve as a Commander.

Television Projects
Dr. Ballard is recognized as one of the premiere spokesman for marine research. For the past twenty years he has participated in numerous educational programs, in particular, the National Geographic Society including a two-year period when he hosted National Geographic's, EXPLORER, shown on Turner Broadcasting.

Research Expeditions
Dr. Ballard has led or participated in more than 100 deep-sea expeditions including the use of the deep-diving submersible ALVIN, ARCHIMEDE, TRIESTE II, TURTLE, BEN FRANKLIN, CYANA, and the Navy's nuclear research submarine NR-1. Dr. Ballard is best known as the discoverer of the ocean liner R.M.S. Titanic, the German Battleship Bismarck, 11 warships from the lost fleet of Guadalcanal and the US aircraft carrier Yorktown. His expeditions included the first manned-exploration of the Mid-ocean Ridge, the discovery of warm-water springs and their unusual animal communities in the Galapagos Rift, the first discovery of polymetallic sulfides and the discovery of high temperature black smokers.

Catherine Offinger, IFE (Director of Operations)

Catherine Offinger, Director of Operations for the Institute for Exploration, has a BA in English from Skidmore College. She began her scientific journey in 1973 as a lab assistant in the sediment lab in the Geology and Geophysics Dept. at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. In 1975, she became the first person hired by the freshly minted Ph.D., Robert D. Ballard. In January of 1976, she accompanied Dr. Ballard to the Cayman Trench as a computer navigator. It was during that trip that she assisted the National Geographic to develop color film taken of the seafloor- the first time color processing had been done at sea. Since that first experience, Cathy has participated in over 50 research expeditions, including the discovery of the deep sea vents in the Galapagos Rift, hydrothermal vents along the East Pacific Rise, the discovery of the TITANIC, BISMARCK, YORKTOWN and most recently, the discovery of the oldest preserved wreck in the deep waters of the Black Sea. Cathy has been involved with the JASON Project since its founding in 1989 as at-sea logistics coordinator.

As Director of Operations for IFE, it is Cathy's responsibility to handle all the details of setting up an expedition. This can be anything from conducting a site survey to setting up the infra-structure that will be required to mobilize in foreign ports, determining what ship will be used for an expedition, negotiating the contract, working out all details for personnel, clearances in foreign countries, shipping, travel, insurance and so forth.

Once an expedition is complete, the results need to be published. Cathy, drawing on that English degree, edits IFE's manuscripts and coordinates publication with the journals. In addition, Cathy conducts the first edit of all of Dr. Ballard's books and manuscripts.

Dwight Coleman, IFE (Chief Scientist)

Dwight F. Coleman is a marine geologist for the Institute for Exploration in Mystic, CT. He is responsible for leading oceanographic expeditions to survey underwater archaeological sites. He was previously a research geologist at the United States Geological Survey in Woods Hole, MA and a support scientist at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Newport, RI. He has participated in more than a dozen oceanographic research cruises including most recently a side-scan sonar and ROV survey in the Black Sea. His educational background includes a B.S. degree in Geology from the University of New Hampshire and a M.S. degree in Marine Geology and Geophysics from the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO). He is currently pursuing a multidisciplinary Ph.D., also at GSO, utilizing advanced geophysical surveying methods and geographic information systems (GIS) for marine archaeological mapping documentation.

Jefferson Gray, NOAA (Sanctuary Manager)

Jeff Gray is the manager of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve. Jeff has a strong background in research, management, and protection. Serving as State Underwater Archaeologist at the Wisconsin Historical Society since 1998, he managed a statewide cultural resource program and developed and implemented the Wisconsin Maritime Trails system. He also acted as a scientific diver and lab technician for NOAA's National Undersea Research Center in Key Largo, Fla. in addition to conducting other archaeological work in North Carolina, Wisconsin, the Dominican Republic, Chile and Greece. Jeff also has extensive experience developing partnerships among and working with government agencies, businesses, non-profit organizations, and user groups. In particular, he worked with these entities to interpret Wisconsin's maritime history and preserve underwater archaeological sites. Gray has published numerous articles in the field of Great Lakes underwater archaeology. He serves on numerous associated boards and committees.

Gray received a B.A. in Anthropology and Archeology from Wisconsin's Beloit College and a M.A. in Maritime History and Underwater Archaeology from North Carolina's East Carolina University.

John Halsey, State of Michigan (State Archaeologist)

Prior to becoming Michigan's State Archaeologist with the Department of State in 1976, Dr. Halsey was Director of Salvage Archaeology at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin. He has extensive upland site excavation experience in Michigan, North Carolina and Wisconsin and is the author or editor of more than 130 publications including in 1990, Beneath the Inland Seas: Michigan's Underwater Archaeological Heritage and in 1999, as editor and contributor, Retrieving Michigan's Buried Past: The Archaeology of the Great Lakes. In his time with the Michigan Historical Center in addition to being State Archaeologist, he as also served as Environmental Review Coordinator, Freedom of Information Act Coordinator and State Historic Preservation Officer. With changes in Michigan law, he has become a pivotal figure in the management, protection, and interpretation of Michigan's underwater archaeological heritage.

John is a 1961 graduate of Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan. He holds a BA and MA in Anthropology from the University of Michigan and a PhD in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.