Rupert A. Brandmeier

Dr. Rupert A. Brandmeier is the co-founder and Vice President of our Institute. He is based in Munich, Germany and Panama. He is a professor for management and administration at Kutaisi International University/Technical University Munich.

Rupert holds a PhD in business administration and is a certified project management professional (PMI). He also has earned bachelor's and master's degrees in archaeology specializing in Nabataean architecture from Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich. Rupert joined archaeology in the late 90’s with underwater surveys in lakes in Switzerland, Austria and Germany (e.g. surveys of cargo barges in Lake Constance). He participates in the Nautical Archaeology Society training curriculum, with an NAS Part IV Diploma in Foreshore and Underwater Archaeology.  

He conducted several nautical survey and research projects as a wreck diver in Truk Lagoon (Operation Hailstone Feb. 17-18 1944- Destruction of the Imperial Japanese Fleet), the Red Sea (Thistlegorm, Dunraven, etc.) the Mediterranean, and the Gulf.

During his stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2008 – 2013) he initiated together with Dr. Jamal Al Omar from Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities the establishment of nautical archaeology in the Kingdom, resulting is a multi-year survey concession from 2012 to Philipps-University Marburg in Germany.

As an archaeological research diver and project manager (logistics) he supported the two survey seasons in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2012 and 2013), and joined Dr. Ralph K. Pedersen and Dr. Lucy Semaan for the Ain el Mreisseh Project in Beirut, Lebanon in 2013.

His specialties include: program and project management, methods and methodology, ancient economies and trade, sustainability in dive tourism, wreck management and protection, capacity building, and dive training. 

Rupert is a licensed yacht master (DSV – SSS) and is a dive master with both PADI and CMAS certification, as well as a first aid/rescue swimmer and diver and an instructor in the Armed Forces Reserve Corps.
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