Steven J. Libert

President of Great Lakes Exploration Group, LLC.

Steve Libert was born in Fairmont, West Virginia on March 31, 1954, to the late George W. Libert, a retired 1st Sgt USMC and General Motors retiree, and the late Sandra E. (Laurel) Libert. He has two brothers, George W. (Butch) Libert Jr., Mark E. Libert and a sister Pamela J. (Riffle) Libert.

His father’s military obligations relocated Steve’s family to many East coast locations, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina before they finally settled down in Dayton, Ohio. In Dayton Steve discovered and developed his athletic prowess, especially in baseball and football. However, when a severe injury ended his short-lived professional football career, Steve turned to other outlets for his adventurous spirit.

Steve first learned to fly, but soon discovered the lure of underwater exploration. He developed a passion for solving complex underwater mysteries.

Over the past 42 years, Steve’s underwater expeditions and missions have taken him on journeys that only a few others have dared to undertake: to the East China Sea, Okinawa, Exumas, Florida’s Keys and his beloved Great Lakes. He has acted as consultant to the late, renowned author Clive Cussler, as NUMA’s Virginia Director, the distinguished archaeologist, Dr. Lee Spence on the confederate submarine CSS Hunley and the late, legendary shipwreck researcher, Robert (Bob) Fleming. Steve has directly participated and/or shared his knowledge and expertise in projects such as the Titanic, I-52 submarine, Navy flight 19 avengers, Bon Homme Richard, the vessel of John Paul Jones, General Tomoyuki Yamashita’s hidden troves, the Poverty Island Treasure Mystery, sinking of the Carl D. Bradley, missing L-39C Albatross and his life long quest, “Le Griffon.”

Steve is the first to admit that his unique skills and research techniques have been born out of failures and hardships. In the face of obstacles and mistakes, Steve has persevered. He credits his wife Kathie J. (Butler) Libert, his confidant and support since their high school days, for all his successes. “I can overcome any obstacle as long as she is by my side.”

Steve received his BA in Political Science with a minor in Economics in 1980 from Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio. He retired after a lustrous career in Washington DC with the Department of Defense, as a senior intelligence analyst for the Chief of Naval Operations. Steve and Kathie departed northern Virginia and made their home in Charlevoix, Michigan, where they still reside today.