“People who are claustrophobic or afraid of bats, the dark or unknown places should not enter a cave,” So says Commercial Space Systems employee Paul Steward, who in his off-hours is an avid cave explorer (also called a “spelunker”) and author on the subject.

Steward has been exploring and mapping cavers for over 15 years and has been in hundreds of caves across the country. His exploits have earned his prestigious Fellow Awards to the National Speleological Society (NSS) and the Cave Research Foundation (CRF). He is the current chairman of the Central New Jersey Grotto (a local chapter of the NSS) and a board member of the New Jersey Cave Conservancy.

His family, though not spelunkers themselves, are quite supportive of Steward’s unusual hobby. “They know I don’t take risks underground,” Steward says, adding that with proper equipment, training and experience, most of the dangers of caving can be avoided or eliminated. “Many of the people I’ve seen in trouble in caves were not prepared mentally or physically, or properly equipped to be there. There are four basic rules to follow: carry at least three sources of light, never cave alone, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to be out of the cave.”

Luckily, Paul has never needed to be rescued, but like any caver, he has his share of stories to tell about loose rocks and being in unfamiliar areas underground. One of his most memorable experiences was when his group squeezed through a tight crack and discovered a new section of cave never before seen or trodden by humans. “That’s the ultimate in caving,” he explains, “to find places where no one has ever been. It’s like walking on the moon.”

Steward has authored two books and written numerous articles on caving. His latest book, True Tales of Terror in the Caves of the World, was published in April by Cave Books, part of the nonprofit CRF. This book covers the dark side of caving, detailing gruesome stories of murders and massacres, crime and accidents, all associated with caves located around the world.

Steward has been with Lockheed Martin for 22 years and currently works in the Power Products area at Commercial Space Systems.