Herbert C. Eppert

Herbert C. Eppert Jr., Ph.D., passed away on March 25, 2019 after a short illness. Eppert was born in Jacksonville, Florida September 13, 1938. He is preceded in death by his parents Herbert C. Eppert Sr. and Ella S. (White) Eppert; and his sister Mary Grace (Eppert) Hull. Herb is survived by his wife, Melanie and their Corgi pup, Agnes. Eppert and his wife Melanie were long-time residents of Waveland and Gulfport. He moved to Mississippi in 1976 as part of a relocation of the U.S. Navy’s research and development activities from the Washington, D.C. area to Stennis Space Center. Eppert was an avid golfer and also loved to fish. He was a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology from the University of Florida, Eppert traveled north to begin his federal career in 1964 at the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) in Suitland, Md. He earned a doctorate in geology from Tulane University in 1967. In 1973, Eppert was selected as director of NAVOCEANO’s Ocean Floor Analysis Division and was responsible for basic and applied research in marine geology, geophysics, and geochemistry. In 1976, NAVOCEANO began relocating to Mississippi and spun off its research and development role with the establishment of the Naval Ocean Research and Development Activity (NORDA). Eppert was selected as head of NORDA’s Seafloor Geosciences Division. Eppert was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in September 1982 and began his new position as director of NORDA’s Ocean Science and Technology Laboratory. In 1983, NORDA morphed into Naval Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Laboratory (NOARL) and he served as associate technical director of NOARL and director of the Ocean Sciences Directorate. In 1992, the Naval Research Laboratory absorbed NOARL and Eppert was appointed superintendent of the Marine Geosciences Division, a position he maintained until his retirement in 2018. As a member of the Senior Executive Service for 36 years, Eppert found himself the civilian equivalent of a Navy admiral for most of his career. Throughout his personal and professional life, he exhibited the Navy’s values of honor, courage and commitment as well as his own values of integrity, vision and understanding, providing unequaled leadership to civilians and service members. At his retirement ceremony, Rear Admiral John Okon quoted Rear Admiral Jon White: “There is no one I know of who has done more to further our knowledge of marine geophysics, which has been crucial to scientific advances related to ocean science and national security for many decades, and will be for many yet to come. If we ever build a Mt. Rushmore on the seafloor, you will surely find Dr. Eppert there.” Eppert leaves behind a legacy of hundreds of civilian and military professionals he has mentored, guided and led throughout the Navy and thousands of friends happy to know him. His awards include the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives, the Department of the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award (the highest award bestowed on a civilian within the Navy); and Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award (the second-highest award bestowed on a civilian within the Navy). Eppert will always be remembered as a caring individual who remembered your name. Numerous colleagues owe their careers to his mentoring. As is customary, Eppert’s Naval research family wish him fair winds and following seas in his next journey. Graveside service is Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 1:00 pm at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Gulfport. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com. The family suggests donations to Humane Society of South Mississippi (https://hssm.org/memorial-honorariums/).