Stockton Rush

Stockton Rush, born on March 31, 1962, was a prominent American entrepreneur and venture capitalist known for his adventurous spirit and innovative contributions to deep-sea exploration. He co-founded OceanGate, a company dedicated to advancing underwater exploration technologies, and served as its chief executive officer.

After earning his degree from Princeton University, Rush began his career as a flight test engineer at McDonnell Douglas, where he worked on the F-15 program. His expertise in engineering and passion for exploration led him to become a board member for BlueView Technologies and the Museum of Flight, further solidifying his commitment to aviation and exploration.

In 2009, Rush partnered with Guillermo Söhnlein to establish OceanGate, a venture that aimed to make deep-sea exploration more accessible. Although Söhnlein left the company in 2013, Rush continued to lead OceanGate until his untimely death on June 18, 2023. Tragically, he lost his life along with four others when the Titan submersible imploded during an expedition to the Titanic wreck.

Following the incident, a report by the US Coast Guard, released on August 4, 2025, indicated that Rush exhibited negligence that contributed to the tragic event, raising questions about accountability in the high-stakes world of deep-sea exploration.