OUR PEOPLE

When passion meets purpose

We are a team of ocean advocates, researchers, and educators committed to continuing MFSE mission and using the RV Searcher to bridge science, community, and conservation. We believe the ocean holds answers to some of our most pressing questions—not just about the environment, but about life itself. Not just a vessel, it is a vital platform to shape its future in a time when our oceans face unprecedented threats. The Searcher is a symbol of what’s possible when passion meets purpose on the open sea.

Building from the MFSE Legacy

Richard & Barbara Littenberg

Dedicated advocates for ocean education and exploration, Richard and Barbara Littenberg are the founders of the Medical Foundation for the Study of the Environment (MFSE). Motivated by growing concerns about ocean pollutants and their effects on human health, they acquired R/V Searcher as a platform to advance marine research and environmental understanding.

Each bring distinct strengths to their shared work. Richard Littenberg, MD, a knowledge enthusiast and Medical Officer, provides scientific curiosity, critical thinking, and medical expertise in support of maritime and educational missions. Barbara Littenberg, the motivated, artistic admiral, brings creative vision, leadership, and an unwavering drive to build meaningful, mission-driven programs.Together they embody and portray a balance of intellect, creativity, and purpose in service of ocean stewardship. After over three decades of stewardship they passed the RV Searcher legacy on to SearcherHawaiʻi, ensuring its continued role in ocean science, education, and conservation.

Johnny Littenberg

Johnny Littenberg is the co-founder of MFSE. Raised in Kailua, Hawaiʻi, his lifelong connection to the ocean began through fishing, diving, surfing, and boating. He holds degrees in economics, environmental and resource economics with a focus on fisheries management, and environmental law. For over 25 years, Johnny captained and operated the Searcher throughout the Pacific, supporting marine research and education.

The Littenbergs remain involved in Searcher Hawai'i, continuing to carry forward the vessel’s legacy.

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Gillian Wysock

Gillian Wysock is a licensed U.S. Coast Guard Captain and marine operations leader with over a decade of experience supporting oceanographic research, education, and conservation at sea. She began her career aboard research vessels while studying at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and sailing tall ships with the Sea Education Association, conducting hands-on oceanographic research offshore. Licensed in 2010, Gillian has worked aboard the research vessel Searcher since that time, playing a key role in vessel operations, crew leadership, and mission execution. She has also served as Chief of Marine Operations for The Nature Conservancy, overseeing vessels and marine logistics in support of global conservation efforts, and brings a rare blend of scientific understanding, operational expertise, and steady leadership to complex marine missions.

Donald Engle

Donald Engle, MD, DDS, MA, MS, is a physician, surgeon, educator, and real estate developer with a lifelong commitment to exploration and service. Trained at the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan, he worked internationally with the Australian Flying Doctor Service and Project HOPE and later served as an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF. Following his medical career, he built a successful real estate development and investment business across the United States. A lifelong sailor and scuba diver, Dr. Engle actively supports oceanographic research through the research vessel Searcher.

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Shane

Shane graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo in 2009 with a degree in Pacific History and Japanese Studies. His academic work reflects a deep interest in culture, place, and the long relationship between people and the ocean. Guided by a lifelong love for the sea, Shane values ocean knowledge as both history and lived experience, and approaches his work with respect for the Pacific, its stories, and its communities.