Michael Jeffrey Briggs

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of former Joint Program Student Michael Jeffrey Briggs of Vicksburg, MS, on Oct. 9, 2025. He was 78.

Michael was born to Walter J. and Mary Agnes Briggs on Aug. 9, 1947, in Galveston, Texas.

Mike grew up in Houston, TX, where he graduated from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory and went on to earn a BS degree in 1970 from the University of Texas at Austin. He then worked for Conoco in Oxnard, CA, as a Drilling Engineer from 1970 to 1972.

He earned an MS degree in Ocean Engineering from the University of Southern California, where he met his wife, Mary Ann. Mike worked as a Design Engineer with Lockheed Missiles and Space before moving to San Antonio, TX, to work for Southwest Research Institute. He decided to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in 1978 to earn an engineering degree, which he was granted in 1981.

Mike worked for Union Oil in California and later joined Waterways Experiment Station as a Hydraulic Engineer from 1983 to 1987 and later as a Research Hydraulic Engineer from 1987 until his retirement. While still employed at WES, Mike earned his PhD from Texas A&M University in 2001.

After retirement, Mike enjoyed doing contract work for the Navy and teaching some workshops. Mike always enjoyed his time at WES and loved to travel on projects and meet and learn from new people.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Mary Ann Briggs; his three sisters, Marilyn (Nick) Dudley, Beverly (Mike) Viilo, and Janice (Jeff) Fronczak; and numerous nephews, great nieces, and nephews.

Mike loved to stay active and enjoyed running and jogging when younger and later taking long walks in the Vicksburg Battlefield Park with Mary. He loved Lionel Model Trains and built an extensive train layout in a spare room at home, where he spent many wonderful hours.

Please join us in celebrating Mike’s life on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford St., Vicksburg, MS, for funeral services.

Information for this obituary is from the Vicksburg Post