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Edward
Cassano
is
a
veteran
of
23
years
of
marine
resource
management,
marine
education,
research,
exploration
and
at
sea
expedition
experience
within
the
maritime
industry.
For
14
years
he
was
a
commissioned
officer
with
the
Department
of
Commerce,
National
Oceanic
&
Atmospheric
Administration,
participating
in
many
multi-disciplinary
scientific
missions
and
marine
research
programs
concerned
with
fisheries
and
natural
resource
management
(trawling,
long-lining,
marine
mammal
and
sea
bird
research).
He
played
a
major
role
in
leading
research
expeditions
and
coordinating
scientific
teams
in
Southeast
Alaska,
tropical
Pacific,
Bering
Sea
and
the
Gulf
of
Alaska.
During
his
tenure
as
Manager
of
the
Channel
Islands
National
Marine
Sanctuary,
Mr.
Cassano
created
multi-disciplinary
research
programs
and
strong
collaborative
relationships
with
local
university,
state
and
federal
marine
research
resources
which
led
the
sanctuary
to
the
forefront
of
the
nation’s
work
in
marine
resource
management.
He
successfully
pioneered
numerous
innovations
in
the
delivery
of
high
quality,
science-based
educational
programs
to
meet
a
cross
section
of
community
needs.
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In
2000,
Mr.
Cassano
joined
the
Santa
Barbara
Maritime
Museum
as
Executive
Director.
By
combining
leading
edge
technology
with
exhibits
and
innovative
educational
programming,
he
created
a
thriving,
multi-disciplinary
non-profit
institution
that
serves
thousands
of
visitors
each
year.
Based
on
this
success,
Jean-Michel
Cousteau
of
the
Ocean
Futures
Society
recruited
Mr.
Cassano
as
Vice
President,
Exploration
&
Expeditions
in
2004.
During
this
time
he
co-directed
a
major
prime
time
PBS
film
expedition
to
the
Northwest
Hawaiian
Islands.
He
later
became
Vice
President
of
Programs
and
Exhibits
at
the
Aquarium
of
the
Pacific.
Within
this
role
he
ensured
all
education,
research,
exhibit,
and
conservation
programs
communicated
the
conservation
mission
of
the
Aquarium
and
reflected
the
highest
degree
of
scientific
accuracy.
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Mr.
Cassano
has
received
numerous
lifetime
achievement
awards
based
on
his
expertise
in
marine
and
coastal
issues.
He
is
currently
the
CEO
and
Founder
of
InMer
Expeditions,
a
science-based
organization
that
conducts
research
expeditions
that
collect
accurate,
reliable
scientific
information
about
the
ocean
and
coastal
zone
for
a
wide
range
of
purposes
including
policy,
conservation
and
education.
He
devotes
himself
to
developing
and
leading
at
sea
expeditions
that
will
integrate
a
continuum
of
education,
outreach
and
research
areas. |
