Dana Yoerger

Dr. Dana Yoerger is a Senior Scientist at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), renowned for his contributions to ocean engineering and robotics. He earned his SB, SM, and PhD from MIT (1977–1983) under Prof. Tom Sheridan, specializing in human-machine interactions. He has led groundbreaking work with autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), including SENTRY, ABE, NEREUS, and JASON, critical to missions like mapping the Deepwater Horizon oil spill plume (2010) and exploring the Mariana Trench. Over 70 oceanographic expeditions have advanced his research on mid-ocean ridges, seamounts, and shipwrecks. Onshore, he directs the Center for Marine Robotics at WHOI and mentors graduate students via the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in control systems and robotics.

His 2009 Lockheed Award recognizes his transformative impact on ocean science and engineering. Yoerger emphasizes practical engineering solutions, balancing theoretical innovation with real-world implementation to address complex maritime challenges.