John Piña Craven (October 30, 1924 – February 12, 2015) was an American scientist who was known for his involvement with Bayesian search theory and the recovery of lost objects at sea.
[1] Craven had 40 years of experience in the innovation, development, design, construction, and operational deployment of major oceanic systems.
Craven's work was instrumental in the navy's search for the missing hydrogen bomb that had been lost in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Spain in 1966.
[2] Craven's next large accomplishment was in the search for and locating of the submarine USS Scorpion (SSN-589), which had disappeared in deep water in the Atlantic Ocean west of Portugal and Spain.
In 1976, after losing in his campaign to become a member of the United States House of Representatives, Craven was appointed as the Director of the Law of the Sea Institute.
He was developing a new and innovative cold water therapy, which may produce significant health breakthroughs and slow the aging process.
In 1998, he received the first Distinguished Civilian Service Award by the Naval Submarine League for his work on Scorpion, Polaris, and other projects.