Eric Schwaab, a longtime Marylander who's spent the last three years in the federal government overseeing fisheries and conservation efforts, is returning home to take a new post at the Baltimore National Aquarium.
Schwaab, currently an acting assistant secretary in the leadership at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, will join the aquarium July 1 as its first-ever senior vice president and chief conservation officer, the Inner Harbor nonprofit announced Wednesday.
"Eric's wealth of experience and passion will help us expand and better promote conservation action to protect the ocean, our planet's life support system," said John Racanelli, the aquarium's CEO.
Before joining NOAA, Schwaab spent roughly two decades with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, where he held a variety of posts including deputy secretary and fisheries director.
He was tapped in 2010 by NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenco as assistant administrator for fisheries. At the time, New England lawmakers in Congress were calling for Lubchenco's resignation over revelations that agency law enforcement officials were using fishing penalty payments to buy cars and boats, go to international conferences and fund covert activities with little budget oversight. Fishermen also were unhappy over catch limits imposed by NOAA.
For more information:
Read the full article at The Baltimore Sun
Read the press release from the National Aquarium