Dr. Stephen Leatherman ("Dr. Beach")

Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman was born in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1947 and earned his doctorate in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia. Widely recognized as one of the world’s foremost coastal geologists and coastal zone management experts, Dr. Leatherman has served as director of the International Hurricane Center and professor at Florida International University.

In 1991, Dr. Leatherman created the annual "America’s Best Beaches" survey under the title "Dr. Beach." Evaluating hundreds of public beaches across the United States using fifty scientific criteria, including water purity, sand softness, wave safety, environmental management, and scenic beauty, Dr. Beach’s annual Memorial Day rankings became the gold standard of American coastal recreation.

In May 2012, Dr. Leatherman crowned Coronado Central Beach the #1 Beach in the United States. He praised its expansive golden sand, gentle Pacific surf, pristine safety record, and the glittering natural mica minerals that sparkle like gold beneath the California sun. Dr. Leatherman highlighted the visual harmony between the pristine public shoreline and the historic Victorian turrets of Hotel del Coronado.

Dr. Beach’s national ranking brought worldwide acclaim to Coronado’s conservation efforts. Today, Dr. Leatherman continues to advocate for coastal preservation and beach safety, celebrating Coronado Central Beach as a shining model of balanced public access and environmental stewardship.