Dear joined the National Marine Mammal Foundation in 2010, utilizing his expertise in animal care and training to enhance multiple NMMF acoustic, biological, and medical research projects as the leader of the research training staff.
Most recently, he provided technical and logistical oversight of advanced imaging projects to better understand dolphin hearing, metabolic disease, and pulmonary health.
Dear began his career with the Navy Marine Mammal Program in 1997, developing highly-valued skills in marine mammal research, training, and animal care under the guidance of Dr. Sam Ridgway. He is the co-author of multiple papers on the acoustic abilities of belugas, dolphins, and pilot whales, including publications in the Journal of Acoustical Society of America. Dear’s presentation at the 2005 International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association annual meeting on the use of “audio evoked potential” (AEP) to measure hearing in marine mammals won him IMATA’s Research Advancement Award (second place). Dear graduated Summa Cum Laude from Auburn University where he earned his MBA as well as Bachelor degrees in both Marine Biology and Marketing.
