Meet the Leadership Team
Discover the dedicated individuals who bring the wonders of the ocean to life at Man in the Sea.
Steve Mulholland
Executive Director
Steve Mulholland is the Executive Director of the Man in the Sea Museum and a retired U.S. Navy Master Diver with 30 years of distinguished experience in both military and commercial diving. With a deep passion for the underwater world, Steve has dedicated much of his life to advancing the field of diving and preserving its rich history.
A resident of Panama City Beach for the past 14 years, Steve has spent the last five years leading the Man in the Sea Museum, where he plays a pivotal role in curating exhibits, educating the public, and maintaining the museum’s legacy as a premier institution for diving history. His leadership and expertise have been instrumental in the museum’s ongoing success and growth.
Steve’s extensive experience is complemented by his active involvement in various organizations within the diving community. He has served as the President of the Institute of Diving and the MKV Monument Foundation, contributing to the advancement and recognition of the diving profession. Additionally, he served on the board of the Sugar Cookies Foundation and is a member of the Master Diver Reunion Committee.
Throughout his career, Steve Mulholland has exemplified his dedication and a profound commitment to the diving community. His contributions continue to make a lasting impact, both locally in Panama City Beach and within the broader diving world diving world.
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Joe Howard
President
Joe Howard is the President of the Man in the Sea Museum and a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Master Diver with 31 years of honorable service. Originally from Waynesville, Ohio, Joe enlisted in the Navy at 18 and retired in 2019 as Command Master Chief of the Center of Explosive Ordnance and Diving in Panama City, Florida.
With 27 years of military and commercial diving experience, Joe has worked in diverse diving platforms, including salvage, underwater ship husbandry, and expeditionary diving. His dedication to the diving and explosive ordnance communities has fostered a passion for preserving the rich legacy of diving for future generations.
A 20-year resident of Panama City Beach, Florida, Joe is deeply involved in his local community. He has been a part of the Man in the Sea Museum for the past four years and actively contributes to other organizations, such as the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center and the MK V Monument Foundation. Additionally, he serves on the Master Diver Reunion Committee.
Joe is married to Angela Bennett, a teacher at Bay High School, and continues to be a committed volunteer in various community projects. He is proud to be part of the Man in the Sea Museum and the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, ensuring that the history and significance of diving are preserved for future generations.
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Brian Pratschner
Vice President
Brian Pratschner is the Vice President of the Man in the Sea Museum and a retired Master Chief and Master Diver with a distinguished 28-year career in military diving. His extensive experience spans all aspects of the field, including salvage operations, ship and submarine repair, Special Forces support, and saturation diving.
After retiring from the U.S. Navy, Brian continued his work in the maritime and diving industries, contributing his expertise to submarine rescue, ship repair, offshore systems installation, and maintenance. He is currently a staff member at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, where he remains dedicated to advancing diving technologies and practices.
Stephen Greier
Senior Board Member
Stephen Greier is Past President of the Man in the Sea Museum and a retired Navy Chief Saturation Diver, bringing over 34 years of experience in military and commercial diving. Originally from McAllen, Texas, Stephen enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 18, serving with distinction for 24 years before retiring in 2012 from the Navy Experimental Diving Unit. His career was shaped by mentorship from leaders in the SEALAB program and other pioneers in the diving community, guiding him to success in the field.
After retiring from the Navy, Stephen continued his career in the maritime sector, serving as a civil servant for the Deep Submergence program. He currently manages the U.S. Military's Defense Compressed Air Testing (D.C.A.T.) Program at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Florida.
A resident of Panama City Beach for 31 years, Stephen has been actively involved in the community and the museum for over a decade. His affiliations include former Vice President of the Institute of Diving, former Vice President of the MK V Monument Foundation, and membership in the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.
Brian Thompson
Senior Board Member
Brian Thompson is a Senior Board Member at the Man in the Sea Museum and a retired Navy Seabee Master Diver, bringing 28 years of extensive military and commercial diving experience. A resident of Panama City, FL for the past 14 years, Brian has been instrumental in preserving and promoting the history of diving through his work at the museum.
Before joining the museum, Brian served for 10 years as a subject matter expert for the Navy's Underwater Construction Program at the Seabee Museum, where he shared his deep knowledge of underwater operations. With 25 years of expertise in construction, facilities management, and project management, Brian’s leadership and operational skills are highly respected within the diving and operations communities. He continues to play a key role in ensuring the museum’s success and the preservation of underwater exploration history.
Jacqui Barker
Board Member
Jacqui Barker is a former U.S. Navy public affairs officer who has served the Home of Military Diving community since 2003 and continues to serve as a management analyst at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit.
Jacqui has served the U.S. Navy since 1993 as active duty, reservist and now civil servant. She served on the 2004 USS Momsen (DDG 92) commissioning team and was the lead PAO for the 2015 Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center Year of the Miliary Diver campaign. Today, she leads the 2027 NEDU Centennial Commemoration team and serves on the Man in the Sea Museum Board of Directors.
A graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Jacqui earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Political Science and a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication and Servant Leadership from Gonzaga University. She has completed professional education through Georgetown University’s Government Affairs Institute, the Defense Information School, Defense Acquisition University, and the U.S. Navy Direct Commission Officer Course. In 2026, she was accepted into Regent University’s Ph.D. program in Strategic Communication.
Logan Main
Senior Board Member
JT Turner
Board Member
Betty Duffy
Secretary