Robert Ballard has conducted more than 150 deep-sea expeditions and is a pioneer in the development of advanced deep submergence and telepresence technology. He is best known for finding the wreck of the Titanic, but he also discovered hydrothermal vents, the wreck of the PT 109, ancient ships and artifacts in the Black Sea, and many other famous sites and phenomena.

Since 2008 he has managed the E/V Nautilus, his flagship for exploration, operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust and funded in part by NOAA. Among his many honors he holds the Explorers Club Medal, the National Geographic Hubbard Medal, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Medal. He lives in Lyme, Connecticut.