Served 30 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a Commander.
Well-preserved Roman and Byzantine vessels in the anoxic (oxygen-free) waters of the Black Sea. Inspiring the Next Generation Bob Ballard: An Explorer's Life
John F. Kennedy's lost World War II patrol boat in the Solomon Islands. Served 30 years in the U
His discovery was made possible by revolutionary "telepresence" technology—unmanned, camera-equipped robots like and Jason that allowed him to see the seafloor without being physically present in a submersible. Beyond the "Rusty Old Boat" Inspiring the Next Generation John F
In 1985, Ballard made his most famous discovery: the wreckage of the . However, the mission itself was actually a top-secret Navy project to survey two lost nuclear submarines, the USS Thresher and USS Scorpion . Only after completing the military objective was Ballard permitted to use the remaining time to search for the famous liner.
Born in Wichita, Kansas in 1942, Ballard’s path to the deep sea began in San Diego. His fascination with the ocean was ignited at age 12 by the Disney film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . He grew up dreaming of being Captain Nemo, a goal he pursued through a unique combination of military service and high-level science.
Spent decades at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and later joined the University of Rhode Island. The Titanic and the "Secret" Mission