Benjamin Holt was born in Santa Monica, CA, in 1950. He received the B.A. degree in human biology from Stanford University in 1972. He is currently working toward the M.S. degree in physical oceanography at the University of Southern California.He joined the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1978, working in the Radar Science and Engineering Section as a user consultant for SEASAT SAR imagery. In 1981, he joined the Oceanography Group where his research has been in the active microwave remote sensing of sea ice and Oceans, particularly the characterization of sea ice in SAR imagery. Since 1983, he has been involved in the Shuttle Imaging Radar-B project as Ocean Science Coordinator.