TIM ASKEW - DIRECTOR OF MARINE OPERATIONS

Askew, an accomplished submersible pilot who joined Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in 1973, said his life as an undersea explorer has been an exciting one.

"Absolutely, every time I've gone out to sea I've felt like we were pioneering new territory, seeing and observing things that no one had ever seen before. I still feel that way. Our work involves scientific research and I've done everything from dive in a live undersea volcano to helping find new species of marine life no one knew existed."

When he came to Harbor Branch, Askew was charged with designing, building, and ultimately piloting the JOHNSON-SEA-LINK II submersible, which is capable of taking four people to depths of 3,000 feet.

He became Chief Pilot in 1978, manager of undersea vehicles in 1983, and Director of Marine Operations five years later.

Recently, Tim Askew was invited by President Clinton to attend the Ninth Millennium Evening "Under the Sea, Beyond the Stars," honoring him and others who have dedicated their careers to the exploration of space and the world's oceans. On Monday, June 12th, he attended the event at the White House which featured presentations by noted scientists, including Astrophysicist Neil de Grasse Tyson and Dr. Marcia McNutt, President of the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Research Institute in Moss Landing, California.

"I think fortunate is the word to describe how I feel about my career and what I've done," Askew said when he learned about the honor. "I've been able to see and do incredible things, and along the way we've helped in the understanding of the world around us," Askew added.

He was the first person to dive on the Civil War ship U.S.S. Monitor in its watery grave off the coast of Cape Hatteras. He helped locate and recover wreckage from the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986.

During his tenure as Director, the emphasis placed on safety has resulted in development of self-help submersible rescue devices, increased at-sea and safety training and readiness, the addition of a shallow-water submersible, and "remotely operated vehicles", or ROVs, for safety and research.

Mr. Askew has logged more than 900 submersible dives in his 26-year career. He is a member of the International Submersible Safety and Rescue Committee and the Research Vessel Operators Council Safety Committee.