Dr. Pat Tester, a respected figure in the field of oceanography, has dedicated her career to studying and understanding marine ecosystems. Growing up in Oklahoma, her love for the natural world led her to pursue a Bachelor's Degree at California State University at Sonoma in 1972. Seeking further specialization, she obtained her Master's Degree in Oceanography from Oregon State University in 1976 and went on to complete her Ph.D. in the same field at OSU in 1983. In 1976, Dr.

Peter originally hails from Connecticut, but at an early age, his family moved to Southern Pines, North Carolina. He attended East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Shortly after graduation, Peter took a brief job with Allied Chemical Company. Peter moved to Carteret County, NC, in 1979 and he accepted a Physical Science Technician position at NOAA’s Beaufort Laboratory in March. Peter worked for Dr. Peter Hanson for his initial five years at the Laboratory; then, he worked for Dr.

• Born and raised in Raleigh, NC
• Graduated from North Carolina State University with Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Biology
• Drafted by the US Army
• Employed as Fisheries Biologist at the Beaufort Lab 1961-1989

 Dr. Randolph “Randy” L. Ferguson was born in Wisconsin along the shores of Lake Michigan and
spent his formative years there.

 During his mid-teens the family moved to New York; there, he enrolled in Cornell University and graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor’s Degree concentrating in Environmental Sciences.

 He entered graduate school at Florida State University in Tallahassee and received his Ph.D. from FSU in 1971; his dissertation dealt with the effects of light and temperature on the growth and productivity of phytoplankton.

Richard "Dick" Stone, a native of Virginia Beach, Virgina, has dedicated his life to environmental research and conservation. He completed his Bachelor's Degree at Virginia Military Institute. He pursued a Master's Degree at William and Mary, further honing his expertise. Dick joined the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Sandy Hook Lab, where he spent 8-1/2 years contributing to important research and conservation efforts.  In 1972, Dick embarked on a new phase of his career when he transferred to NOAA's Beaufort Lab.

• Mr. Bill Hettler was born in Chicago and was raised in San Antonio, Texas.
• Bill attended the University of Texas and received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1960.
• After graduation he was commission as an officer in the U.S.