James P. Delgado

James P. Delgato is the President and CEO of the Institute of Nautical Archeology. After gaining a master’s degree in underwater archeology from Eastern Carolina University, he was assigned by the N.P.S. to work as project historian on the U.S.S. Monitor Project with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He then headed the Park Service’s maritime preservation program, the National Maritime Initiative, as its founding chief. As chief he led an effort to study 142 ships for designation as national landmarks and guidelines for preservation and documentation; this included the documentation of the wreck of the famous U.S. Navy brig, U.S.S. Somers, the setting for the Navy’s only mutiny and the inspiration for Herman Melville’s Billy Budd.

In 1991 he moved to the Vancouver Maritime Museum in Vancouver, British Columbia, and remained there for 15 years as executive director. He returned to the university and gained a Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University. He also hosted the television series, “The Sea Hunters” with bestselling author, Clive Cussler for five years.