About Project Recover
Project Recover is a collaborative effort to enlist 21st-century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action (MIA) since World War II to provide recognition and closure for families and the Nation.
Project Recover began as Dr. Pat Scannon’s vision to bring MIAs home from Palau in 1993. Formerly known as The BentProp Project, the organization has grown from a grassroots effort to a team of dedicated professionals and volunteers using innovative science to bring our MIAs home.
Over nearly three decades, the team has repatriated over 17 MIAs and located more than 60 US World War II aircraft associated with more than 200 MIAs in missions around the globe. There are 100+ MIAs awaiting recovery around the globe, as a result of Project Recover's work.
In 2012, Project Recover was informally founded as a collaborative partnership between the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Delaware. In 2016, the partnership was formalized. In 2018, The BentProp Project officially changed its name to Project Recover. The organization works in close partnership with Scripps and UDel.
Fast Facts:
Based on Project Recover's Work
60+
Completed Missions
20+
Countries & Territories
60+
Aircraft Located
200+
Associated MIAs
3000+
MIAs associated with on going investigations.
17+
Repatriated MIAs
100+
Awaiting MIA Recovery Missions
700+
Cases in growing database
Board of Directors
Dan Friedkin
Chair
Derek Abbey, Ph.D.
President / CEO
Pat Scannon, M.D. Ph.D. President Emeritus
Daniel T. O'Brien
Treasurer / Admin
Val Thal-Slocum
Secretary
Flip Colmer
In Memoriam, Team Innovator
Specialists
Lead Historian
Dr. Colin Colbourn is Project Recover’s Lead Historian and a Postdoctoral Researcher with the University of Delaware. Since 2016, he has managed historical operations including archival research, data management, case analysis, and field investigations. Through these efforts, Project Recover has developed a massive internal archive comprised of thousands of historical reports, maps, and images. Learn more about Colin and his work with MIA Families
Lead Archaeologist
Dr. Andrew Pietruszka is an underwater archaeologist specializing in the search, documentation, and recovery of U.S. service members missing in action as a result of our nation’s past conflicts. He received an M.A. in Underwater Archaeology/Maritime Studies from East Carolina University and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from Syracuse University. Learn more about Drew Pietruszka and the archaeology behind the search MIAs.
European Regional Director
Dave Bavencoff
Recruitment Coordinator
Advisory Council
Darcy Anderson
Vice Chairman, Hillwood Management
Matt Byrd
Colonel,USAF (ret.), President and CEO, Hillwood Aviation
Jeff Cathey
Head, Military and Veteran Affairs,
Senior V.P.
Bank of America
Shane Doucet
Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (ret.)
Principal, Doucet Consulting Solutions
Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, PhD, US Navy (ret)
CEO Ocean STL Consulting
Juan Garcia III
Asst Sec of Navy 2009-2015
Amanda Hughes
Director, The Friedkin Foundation
Tom Henricks
Colonel, USAF (ret.) and former US Astronaut
Jack McGrory
Jack McGrory is CEO of La Jolla MJ Management, LLC
Courtney Mitchell, CFRE
Chief Development Officer, Travis Manion Foundation
T.M. Moseley
General, USAF (ret.) Former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force
Eric Williamson
President, Friedkin Aviation
V.P., The Friedkin Business Development Group
Kevin Zimmerman
National Director Help For Heroes at Springstone, Inc
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