wbaxley1@hboi.fau.edu
772-242-2410
Title
Director of Technical Operations
Education
- B.S. Ocean Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology, 1991
- M.S. Coastal Zone Management, Nova Southeastern University, thesis pending
- U.S Navy Basic Diving Officer, Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, 2001
Career
Mr. Baxley joined the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) as a Navy civil servant in 1992 after graduating with a degree in Ocean Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology. He worked as an ocean engineer on a wide variety of Navy research projects involving acoustics, underwater vehicles, underwater measurement arrays, and numerous buoy-based detection systems. He became the primary pilot for the TONGS ROV system, and oversaw the complete redesign and upgrade of the system. Mr. Baxley also attended U.S. Navy dive school in 2001, graduating at the top his class, and became NSWC Carderock Division's Diving Officer shortly thereafter. Upon assignment as Lead Engineer, Mr. Baxley led numerous at-sea operations involving the installation of complex systems requiring precise placement and calibration in deep water, and within the high currents of the Gulf Stream offshore south Florida. Mr. Baxley joined Harbor Branch in May 2008 as the Director of Technical Operations, a position that involves the management of engineering, fabrication, and marine operations at the Institute.
Research Interests
Remotely operated vehicles, diving systems, ocean instrumentation
