:: John J. McAniff - Distinguished Service - 1962

John McAniff was a noted diving professional for over 50 years. He was a world renowned authority on diving safety and for many years his University of Rhode Island office on the Kingston campus was the headquarters for the National Underwater accident Data Center. McAniff collected and provided information on diving accidents throughout the US. McAnnif's research was financed by the National Sea grant College Program and the Center was funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S Coast Guard. McAniff received a NOGI in 1962 and in 1976 the first U.S. Coast Guard Academy Award for outstanding contributions to the field of diving and marine safety. He is also a recipient of the DEMA Reaching Out Award. McAniff was one of the four Founders and the Safety Director of the Underwater Society of America. He has been a member of the Newport Underwater Association and served as the President of the Rhode Island Council of Skin Diving Clubs, and a task-group chairman fore the Underwater Safety Commission that is associated with the American National Standard Institute.