Dr. Luther received his doctoral degree in Physical Oceanography from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1982. Dr. Luther is an Associate Professor and director of the Center for Maritime and Port Studies in the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. He has provided operation and maintenance support for the NOAA National Ocean Service Tampa Bay Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System since 1995. He presently serves on the Tampa Bay Harbor Safety and Security Committee Vessel Movement Committee, the DHS Area Maritime Security Committee for West Florida, and the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council Agency on Bay Management. He works closely with the Tampa Port Authority, the Tampa Bay Pilots, US Coast Guard, and other maritime interests on environmental issues affecting and affected by maritime transportation operations and infrastructure. Dr. Luther chairs the Science Advisory Council for The International SeaKeepers Society, He is an avid boater with both power and sail boats and holds a US Coast Guard Captain’s License. He has been sailing the waters of Tampa Bay and west Florida for more than 35 years.
