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Dr. Stephen E. Smith, Ph.D., Managing Director
Dr. Smith has over thirty years experience as a professional in diving
education. He holds Master Instructor level or greater diving
certifications from the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI)
and Scuba Schools International (SSI) as well as being certified to teach all
provider courses offered by the Divers Alert Network (DAN), including those
designed for professional divers and emergency personnel such as the U. S.
Coast Guard. He is a past CPR and First Aid Instructor for the American
Red Cross and Emergency First Response organizations. For 16 years,
Dr. Smith served as the Dive Safety Officer for St. Mary’s College of Moraga,
California and was a member of the College's Dive Control Board.
Dr. Smith is a full member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences.
Dr. Smith has supervised numerous field schools in maritime archaeology
and coral reef monitoring projects and has participated in maritime
scientific research. Currently, Dr. Smith also serves as a member of
the Walnut Creek Community Emergency Response Team.
Dr. Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University
of Arizona, Tucson, is a National Fellow of The Explorers Club, Chair Emeritus
of the Northern California Chapter and currently serves on the Explorers Club
National Membership Committee.
Dr. James M. Allan, Ph.D., Director
Dr. Allan has over thirty years experience as a professional dive instructor
and educator. He holds an Instructor certification from the Professional
Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). Dr. Allan is a Registered
Professional Archaeologist in private practice and teaches maritime
archaeology at St. Mary’s College of Moraga, and the University of
California, Berkeley. Dr. Allan also serves as a member of the National Park
Service’s Historical Landmark Committee. Dr. Allan is the Executive
Director of the Institute for Western Maritime Archaeology. Dr. Allan is well
known in the fields of terrestrial and nautical archaeology and has
contributed significantly to the scientific literature.
Dr. Allan holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley and is a
National Fellow of The Explorers Club.
Mr. Kenneth Ehrhart, Director
Mr. Ehrhart has over fifteen years of experience providing professional
supervision of scuba divers, holding twelve certifications, including
professional Divemaster and Asst. Instructor certifications from the
Professional Assoc. of Diving Instructors. During his diving career he has
participated in the training of numerous divers, from introductory to
professional levels. Mr. Ehrhart is currently a partner in a venture capital
firm where he specializes in technology assessment, funding of new firms,
and market research. Mr. Ehrhart holds two Bachelors Degrees from the
University of California, Berkeley, and attended the School of Foreign Service
at Georgetown University. Mr. Ehrhart is a National Member of the Explorers Club.
Dr. Lesley Ewing, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor
Lesley Ewing is coastal engineer with the California Coastal Commission.
Her first project with the Coastal Commission, in 1988, was to prepare
a report on the potential impacts to the California Coast from Accelerated
Sea Level Rise and her interest in the effects of climate change on the
coast continue to the present. She has published numerous articles and
reports on coastal processes, effects of sea level rise, tsunami planning,
and issues related to coastal resilience. Ms. Ewing served on the Board of
Governors for the Coasts, Oceans, Ports and Rivers Institute of the
American Society of Civil Engineers, is a Director of the California Shore
and Beach Preservation Association and editor-in-chief of Shore and Beach.
She is a licensed engineer in California and Virginia. She holds an Sc.B.
in Civil Engineering from Brown Univ., an M.R.P. in regional planning from
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; and an M.Eng. in coastal engineering from
the Univ. of Calif. Berkeley. She received her Ph.D. in Civil
Engineering from USC. Ms. Ewing is a National Fellow of the Explorers Club
and current Chair of its Northern California Chapter.