Dr. Irion received his doctorate degree in archaeology from The University of Texas in 1990. He has over 30 years experience in underwater archaeology and has participated in or directed archaeological expeditions in England, Mexico, Belize, Turkey, Italy, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. Prior to joining the MMS in 1995, Dr. Irion served as a private consulting marine archaeologist working under contract to both private industry and state and federal agencies. His work has resulted in the discovery and documentation of numerous historic sites and shipwrecks, including the Confederate Harbor Obstructions in Mobile Bay and the wreck of the steamship Columbus in Chesapeake Bay.

Since joining the MMS, Dr. Irion has directed the Seafloor Monitoring Team, comprised of a group of diver/scientists with the MMS, in the documentation of several historic shipwrecks on the Outer Continental Shelf. These have included the Civil War gunboat U.S.S. Hatteras and the 19th century coastal steamers New York and Josephine, the latter of which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. Most recently, Dr, Irion has been involved with the investigations of several deep water wrecks discovered in the Gulf of Mexico, including the German submarine U-166 found in 5,000 feet of water and an early 19th century wooden-hulled sailing ship found in 2,650 feet of water. In his free time, Dr. Irion also works as a volunteer diver with the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas.