In 1973, the famous civil war ironclad warship, USS Monitor, was discovered off the coast of North Carolina. This discovery led to the use of military and civilian underwater robots and advanced the use of and understanding of underwater robots in the 21st century. Learn more.

John Broadwater holds a Master’s degree (College of William and Mary), and a PhD in maritime studies (University of St. Andrews, Scotland.) He’s served as chief archaeologist in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), wrote the book USS Monitor, and participated in numerous deep sea dives, including exploring the Titanic wreck. John also enjoys risky sports; currently, he wants to take a long flight in a stunt plane in Las Vegas.