Early life and education Robert Duane Ballard was born on June 30, 1942 in Wichita, Kansas. He had an older brother, Richard, and a younger sister, Nancy Ann. When Ballard was two years old, his family moved to southern California, where his father worked as a flight test engineer. He has attributed his early interest in underwater exploration to watching the 1954 film 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, an adaptation of Jules Verne's 1870 novel. While he was a high school student, his father connected him with oceanographers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and he participated in several short research expeditions. Ballard enrolled at University of California, Santa Barbara, and joined the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.
early lIfe and EduCatioN rObert DUane BallarD WAS born on juNe 30, 1942 in wiChiTa, KAnsaS. hE haD aN oLDEr brOther, rIcharD, and A yOuNger SisTEr, Nancy aNN. WhEn balLArD waS two years old, HiS fAMily moveD To soUTheRn cAliFornIa, wHeRE his FaTher wOrked As A FLiGht test EnginEer. he hAs AttriBUted HIs early interESt IN underwAtEr expLoration to watchIng the 1954 FIlm 20,000 LEAgueS UndEr thE seA, aN adapTatiON of Jules veRnE's 1870 novEl. WhilE hE waS a higH sChooL sTuDenT, his fAtHER connecTeD him with oceanographers at SCRipps insTitUTiOn oF oceanOgraphY, aNd he PARtICiPated IN seVEraL shoRt research eXpedItions. BallaRD enrOllED At UnivErsiTy of californIa, saNta BArBara, AnD joined the Army reserve offIcer tRainING cOrps.