History

Woods Hole Group was founded in 1986 by Dr. David G. Aubrey. While a senior scientist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Dr. Aubrey became interested in applying his knowledge of coastal and oceanographic processes. He founded WHG to provide applied scientific solutions to the environmental problems being encountered in the real world.

While at WHOI, the United Nations approached the institution to examine pollution problems and to develop clean-up and management plans for the Black Sea. This unique body of water had become the receptacle for sewage and industrial wastes from both eastern and western Europe. The outcome was the formation of the International Cooperative Marine Science Programme for the Black Sea.

The project also became the springboard from which Dr. Aubrey could satisfy his strong interests in science, engineering, policy, and management as applied to comprehensive, fact-based solutions to global environmental and development problems. Since then, he has become Chief Expert to the United Nations development programs for many coastal seas and river basins.

Since its founding, Woods Hole Group has concentrated on applied science and engineering and environmental policy as its primary fields of expertise. The Company has added more high-level scientific, engineering, and field services talent, and is now composed of approximately fifty professionals, including senior scientists and engineers Bruce Magnell, Lee Weishar, Paul Dreyer, Jerry Cura, and Kirk Bosma. They bring significant capability to the Company’s clients in a wide array of disciplines.

In 2002, Dennis Aubrey was brought in as President. He hired J. Luke Sabella as Chief Financial Officer, Robert Catalano as VP of Scientific Operations, and promoted Bob Hamilton to VP of Business Development. This management team has expanded operations to the Mid-Atlantic (Dover, Delaware) and Houston, Texas. Most importantly, this activity freed Dr. Aubrey to pursue long-range international projects. The first result of that was the opening of Woods Hole Group Middle East, with offices in Riyadh in 2005.

Woods Hole Group has continued its international expansion since then. In March 2011, the Company established a new Brasilian subsidiary in Rio de Janiero. Woods Hole Brasil Ltda. – Servicos Em Oceanografia was created to support ongoing oceanographic and coastal projects in Brasil.

Woods Hole Group has experienced substantial growth during the last few years, and forecasts sustaining and building on this growth in the second decade of the 21st Century. The firm is fueled by its staff, and diversified clients in the government sector (e.g., NOAA and USACE), local government and private sector customers, and offshore energy industry, as well as its international operations.