Dr.  David Naar became the Interim Director of FIO in August 2025 and serves as Associate Dean and Professor of the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science department. 

Dr. Naar has over 30 years of experience in geological oceanography and has been on countless research expeditions utilizing FIO’s research vessels. David specializes in plate tectonics and seafloor mapping. His earlier research involved the analysis of marine magnetics, bathymetry, backscatter, and earthquake data to study mid-ocean ridge processes, microplate processes, and their interactions with hotspot volcanism. He used freezing wax analog models of seafloor spreading to gain insight on how major plate boundary reorganizations occur. His more recent research has involved acoustic multibeam mapping of paleoshorelines, fish benthic habitats, artificial reefs, coral reefs, inert mines, and hydrothermal vents. These research interests have led to oceanographic mapping expeditions to the Gulfof Mexico, Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. He has served as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research, Marine Geophysical Researches, and the European Geophysical Union Solid Earth online journal. He also served on multiple panels for the National Science Foundation, including the United States Scientific Advisory Panel for the Ocean Drilling Program, and the steering committee for the NSF RIDGE 2000 program.

In addition to serving as Interim Director of FIO and Associate Dean for the USF College of Marine Science, Dr. Naar is a Co-PI of the newly awarded NOAA Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies at the College (https://www.marine.usf.edu/comit/).

Experience: 30 years
Specialization: Marine Magnetics; Mid-Ocean Ridge and Hotspot Interactions; Plate Tectonics; Wax Analog Modeling of Seafloor Spreading Processes, Seafloor Mapping of Fish Habitats, Artificial Reefs, Coral Reefs, Mines, Paleoshorelines, and Hydrothermal Vents.