A pioneer in ocean exploration, Dave was Director of Special Projects at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and at the forefront of underwater astonishments for more than 25 years. He received degrees in science and geology from the SUNY Albany and a PhD in oceanography from the University of Rhode Island. In 1987 he joined Bob Ballard’s team at WHOI as Assistant Director of the Center for Marine Exploration.
Dave has logged expeditions to all the world’s oceans and was one of the first scientists to use a combination of robots and submarines to explore the deep seafloor. He co-led an expedition to create the first detailed and comprehensive map of the RMS Titanic and co-led the successful international effort to locate the remains of Air France flight 447, and has been involved in exploration to locate and document the wreckage of Ernest Shackleton’s ship, HMS Endurance — among other quests.
Active in the development of new technologies for ocean exploration, Gallo is a member of James Cameron’s Deep Ocean Task Force and the XPrize Ocean Advisory Board.
Human activity has impacted the ocean on a global scale and with significant consequences. The oceans hold the clues to our past and the key to our future yet they remain mostly unexplored and poorly understood. Dave is profoundly committed to conveying the importance and excitement of ocean understanding to the public. He has appeared in numerous documentaries and television programs (Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic, PBS, MSNBC, NBC Today Show, among others).
His numerous awards and honors include: Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a National Fellow of The Explorers Club, and a recent recipient of the Lotus Club Distinguished Achievement Award in Science.
