Page 35: of Marine Technology Magazine (September 2023)

James M. Sullivan, Ph.D.

WITH NEW

GAP FILL SONAR

S2 6205

Executive Director,

SWATH

FAU Harbor Branch

BATHYMETRY & SIDE SCAN

James M. Sullivan, Ph.D., was pects of his former research position

SONAR named the Executive Director, FAU – physically engineering new prod-

Harbor Branch, three years after ucts and systems; and the “eureka joining the organization. In his heart, moments” … making that rare, ? rst

Sullivan is an engineer and a scien- ? nd – he is well-suited for success in tist, an internationally renowned re- his leadership role, and understands searcher and oceanographer, with a that in the Executive Director seat he long history engaged in deep study can effectively enable a much broad- of the world’s waterways, his spe- er swath of change than he could as cialty was in phytoplankton physiol- a scientist/engineer alone. “I can ogy and ecology. drive science a lot more in this posi-

Even up until the time that he joined tion than I could just working in my

FAU Harbor Branch, Sullivan admit- lab on my own projects.” ted he never possessed the ambition In addition, Sullivan is the ? gure- to enter the administrative part of head of the institute and interfaces academia, let alone take the top spot. with politicians, outside organiza-

But his natural ability plus circum- tions and community groups to help stance met, and he was deemed the in? uence how funding is made to most viable candidate, and acqui- ocean sciences. “It’s a different lev- esced when asked to take on the el, but really it’s all the same thing; executive director role as an interim we’re trying to improve science and position. “I had no interest whatso- facilitate research,” guided by the ever in the position, but was asked university’s four core pillars, includ- ‘will you be interim executive direc- ing: Biomedical Research, Aquacul- • Co-registered, dual-frequency tor while we do a national search to ture, Marine Conservation Research, side scan and bathymetry ? nd somebody.’” Sullivan agreed, in and Ocean Engineering. • Unrivaled swath coverage part because he realized that there Looking ahead, he sees these tech- in shallow water were a number of issues at the Insti- nologies that will have the greatest • IHO SP-44 Special Order tute that he could help rectify in the impact on the study of world’s wa- compliant new role. “There were substantial terways for the coming generation: • Swath sectors of up to 200º changes I [could effect] while I’m Autonomous Measurement Systems; interim, because I’m going to go Sensors; and Big Data Analytics.

• Motion-tolerant side scan back to the faculty, and I want this FAU Harbor Branch is the second • Integrated mini SV stuff ? xed.” With an eye on making largest (144 acres) campus in the • Optional, OEM embedded INS substantial, constructive changes, FAU system, with 250 people on • Optional, CHIRP Sub-bottom

Sullivan set about the job with a vig- campus, including 70 graduate stu-

SURðOHU or. Then a funny thing happened. “I dents and 40 research faculty mem- guess I did too good of a job because bers. In 2021 FAU Harbor Branch three months after I was interim, had almost $18-20 million in external they asked me to become the perma- research funding (1/3 of all the exter- nent director … and here I am.” nal research dollars that come into

While Sullivan misses some as- FAU run through Harbor Branch).

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MTR #7 (34-49).indd 35 10/2/2023 5:44:58 PM