MBARI Welcomes Kaya Johnson as New Director of Marine Operations
The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) has announced the appointment of Kaya Johnson as its new director of marine operations. Johnson will be responsible for overseeing MBARI’s seagoing assets, which include three research vessels, a deep-sea cabled observatory, and a fleet of advanced underwater robots.
Johnson joins MBARI from Oregon State University (OSU), where he spent the last six years working as the port captain and marine superintendent of ship operations. At OSU, he managed the operations of a fleet of three research vessels, including the recently retired Oceanus and the Pacific Storm.
Prior to his time at OSU, Johnson worked as the vessel operations coordinator at Ocean Associates, Inc., where he oversaw a fleet of 20 research vessels at the Point Adams Research Station. He also has experience as a vessel master and marine operations manager at American Waterways, Inc., where he captained a fleet of five vessels.
In a statement, Johnson expressed his excitement about joining MBARI and working with the institute’s scientists and engineers to explore the ocean using innovative technology. MBARI president and CEO, Chris Scholin, praised Johnson’s leadership skills, knowledge, and strategic vision, stating that he will be a valuable asset to the institute’s work.
MBARI is eagerly anticipating the arrival of its new oceanographic vessel, the David Packard, which was built at the Freire Shipyard in Spain. With Johnson at the helm of marine operations, MBARI is poised to continue its groundbreaking research and exploration of the ocean’s depths.
