He grew up in rural areas, but was able to frequently visit the museums in and around Chicago, which fostered an interest in science.

In December 1953, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in speech pathology/audiology with a double major in dramatic arts and then went to his final ROTC training at Fort Sill.

[4][3] When he completed his military service, he was hired by Douglas Aircraft Company in California as a laboratory research analyst in bioacoustics studying the effect of jet engine noise on non-human animals.

He left Douglas in 1959 and got a job as the senior scientist and project leader of bioacoustic at Lockheed Aircraft in Burbank, CA.

He helped to create a special research platform for recording and observing dolphins underwater called "Sea See" and worked on the design of the semi-submersible vehicle, the RVSea See.

During this time and after, from 1974 to 1976, he was head of the bioanalysis group, underseas sciences department, at the Naval Ocean Systems Center.

There he worked on remote sensing studies for use in oceanography and hosted notables like Jacques Cousteau and then-governor Ronald Reagan.

[5][4] In 1983, Evans was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to serve as chairman of the Marine Mammal Commission for two years, and his term was extended until 1986.

It was the change in the nature of his job from one of science to legal and cleanup efforts that led him to retire from NOAA in late 1989.