Eric King has been involved in the maritime industry for over 30 years. During his career, he has supported organizations engaged in the management of oceanographic research vessels, ocean salvage fleets, and marine construction platforms, as well as ensuring maritime regulatory compliance with domestic and international laws while an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. Eric holds degrees from Maine Maritime Academy (B.S., Maritime Transportation and Nautical Science) and the University of Washington (M.S., Public Administration), as well as a diploma in ship management from Northwest Kent College and an executive leadership certificate from the Evans School of Public Policy & Governance.
He started with Schmidt Ocean Institute in 2010, working closely with the Institute’s management and engineering teams overseeing SOI’s research vessels and robotic vehicles. Today Eric leads the Maritime Infrastructure Division responsible for the overall management and operation of R/V Falkor (too), the ship’s crew, the robotic vehicles, the science expedition planning, and the logistics required to support the Institute’s global seagoing operations.
For Eric, working within the ocean sciences community since 2004 has been both personally and professionally rewarding. He has been motivated to support the exploration of our Ocean because it is such a vast and unknown environment with the potential to uncover new life forms, discover solutions to global challenges, develop new technologies, improve the understanding of Earth, and inspire future generations through the incredible wonder of the deep sea.
