The Personal Side of John Ruppel

Family values are very important to John and his family.  When it was time for the oldest to go to school, John and family moved from San Diego, CA to Bedford, NH so that the kids, Grand Parents, Aunt and Family Friends could be in one another’s lives for their up bringing

Leadership is part of John’s DNA.  John earned the rank of Eagle Scout with  Troop 703 in Midland, MI.  Once having the taste of leadership positions within the troop, John set his sights on how to be the best for the world in providing leadership

While active duty Navy, John was released to Woodshole Oceanographic Institute’s Deep Submergence Laboratories (DSL), providing navigation and operational support for the world’s leading Scientists & Engineers.  John led the DSU’s (Deep Submergence Unit) Navigation team supporting 24 hour global fly away capabilities. John is one of the few who can set up a transponder grid at the bottom of the ocean, calibrate from GPS satellites and then Navigate manned and unmanned submersibles along with packages dropped from the surface to land on target, with-in 10’s of meters, miles below on the ocean floor.  This is where John learned the true value of “repeatability” and how to define a methodology or process to get repeatable results.  Below is a clip of John Navigating during one of +50 live Jason Project broadcasts by satellite.  The ship was on station off the coast of Baja California in the Sea of Cortez, the vehicles were thousands of meters below, on the ocean floor and the students were sitting in their classrooms stateside piloting the ROV (Remote Operated Vehicle) Jason.

John is a three time Navy Achievement Medal recipient

Early on, John incorporated martial arts as a way of life.  Studying a variety of hard and soft styles, in a variety of places and settings across the globe, his favorite is Wing Chun.

John grew up in Michigan, spending his summers in a cabin built by his Grandpa John in Lake City, MI.  John is actually the third generation “John”.