2022

Chuck Baxter was one of the four visionaries who first imagined our education and conservation partner, the Monterey Bay Aquarium. As a longtime marine biology lecturer at Stanford University’s Hopkins Marine Station, his passion for marine ecology helped shape MBARI’s research priorities, especially our studies of the Monterey Canyon.

As MBARI’s inaugural Director of Marine Operations, Steve Etchemendy played a major role in shaping the institute through its rise to prominence. He worked closely with our founder, David Packard, to implement a progressive yet practical approach to marine operations. Upon his retirement in 2015, he was the longest-serving member of our Management Team.

Natalie Fairchild was an administrative assistant in MBARI’s Marine Operations Division for 27 years. A valued team member, she helped coordinate the complicated logistics of our ships, robotic vehicles, and staff. She was always eager to lend a hand and never failed to share a smile and a laugh with her colleagues.

Gail Piper de Mesa worked at MBARI for more than a decade, first as an administrative assistant, then as the communications assistant for the Information and Technology Dissemination Division. She later joined our human resources team as the benefits specialist. Her can-do attitude and sunny disposition made an impact across the institute.

As a member of our Board of Directors for 26 years, Karl Pister was a tireless champion for advancing engineering innovation at MBARI. The professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, and former UC Santa Cruz chancellor was also passionate about increasing access to higher education, especially for students from underrepresented backgrounds.