Captain Arthur L. Wardwell, who commanded the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey's Ship OCEANOGRAPHER on the recently completed Global Scientific Expedition, retired on March 1, 1968, after nearly 38 years of service. Technically, Captain Wardwell retired last August 1, 1967, but was immediately recalled to active duty to complete the trip and the necessary details that followed. He served as Coast and Geodetic Survey representative in Jacksonville during the time the OCEANOGRAPHER was being built there and took command when the ship was completed in 1966.

Captain Wardwell joined the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1930 soon after graduating from the University of Vermont, and served for the next several years on various geodetic field parties, and for several months in 1936 in Washington. For the next several years he was assigned aboard Coast and Geodetic Survey ships on the east coast and to field and office photogrammetric duties.

In April 1942, he was transferred to the U.S. Navy and was a navigating officer in both the Atlantic and the Pacific before returning to the Coast and Geodetic Survey early in 1945.

In 1950 and 1951, Captain Wardwell was assigned to the Tampa, Florida office of the Coast and Geodetic Survey as officer in charge, and again as district officer in 1957-1960.

In addition to the OCEANOGRAPHER, he also had command of the SOSBEE and PATHFINDER during the 17 years he served aboard nine different Coast and Geodetic Survey's ships.

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ESSA CORPS BULLETIN, 4/1/1968