Tom Tengdin

aka Meathead

I had a chance to spend a day with Tom a few years back. He was piloting the deep submersable Alvin for Wood's Hole. It and its mother ship, Atlantas II, were in Newport, Oregon for a few days.

Tom gave me a tour of his shop. He was chief information officer for the operation. He also gave me a tour of the Alvin. Tom had figured out that piloting the submersible was where its at and had done all of the study and boards and stuff to serve that duty as well. All I can say is that that machine was as complex and unusual as the lunar excursion module. The only difference is that the Alvin, unlike the LEM, found new lifeforms. -- ?WardCunningham

Tom dropped by my web site and signed my guestbook recently. I'd like to share with you a portion of his email. -- ?PhilTemples

I worked for Woods Hole Oceanographic as an Alvin Pilot after I left Purdue EE department about 15 years ago. Been back a couple times.

After four years off shore I (where I met Debra my wife) we both landed jobs at Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing. We live about 11miles east of the coast in the hills so we benefit from the moderating effect of the bay without all the fog.

Two years ago I went to work for Duke Power at the Moss Landing Power Plant.