Don Walsh, PhD, was a retired US Navy captain, oceanographer, explorer and engineer who previously served as a dean and professor at the University of Southern California. Don initially made history in 1960 when he piloted the Trieste, the first manned submersible to reach the deepest point in the ocean, the Challenger Deep. He founded and previously led the Oregon-based consulting company, International Maritime Inc., and held a BS from the US Naval Academy, an MS and doctorate from Texas A&M University, and an MA from San Diego State University. With more than 50 polar expeditions to his credit, Don has left a remarkable legacy on the fields of oceanography and engineering.