Tuesday, March 29, 2022
(Virginia Beach, VA) – The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center celebrates the retirement of Mark Swingle, Chief of Research & Conservation. Swingle was the very first full-time employee hired by the Director of the Aquarium prior to its opening in 1986 and has advanced his career with the City of Virginia Beach ever since. However, Swingle’s work began in 1982, before the Aquarium opened under its former name, the Virginia Marine Science Museum. Spanning his 40-year career, Swingle's work profoundly impacted marine conservation in the Commonwealth of Virginia and inspired action and change around the world.
Swingle is a conservation and marine biologist dedicated to inspiring stewardship of natural environments to preserve and maintain a healthy and sustainable planet. During his tenure at the Aquarium, he built and evolved the research and conservation division, fostering a small but mighty team of scientists, aquarists, and volunteers. His roles at the Aquarium have included nearly all aspects of working with exhibit design, aquatic animal care, animal acquisitions and quarantine, and marine mammal and sea turtle stranding response. Most recently, Swingle’s responsibilities as Chief of Research & Conservation have revolved around research, marine animal acquisitions, the Stranding Response Program, and advocating for sustainable practices and public policy in support of ocean and freshwater conservation.
“It has been an honor and a privilege to work for the City of Virginia Beach and our community the past 40 years. The opportunity to be part of the creation of the Virginia Aquarium in my hometown has been an amazing experience. I am most proud of the accomplishments of our team to protect wild animals and wild places in support of the Aquarium’s conservation mission,” Swingle shares.
Spanning four decades, Swingle’s professional portfolio and noble achievements are robust. Most recently, Swingle directed the development of the state-of-the-art Darden Marine Animal Conservation Center to carry out the important work of the Aquarium, including the Stranding Response Program. With Swingle at the helm, the stranding team has grown to 8 full-time researchers and scientists and more than 50 volunteers. The stranding team has responded to more than 10,000 marine mammal and sea turtle strandings in over 30 years and has released hundreds of rehabilitated sea turtles back into the ocean. Swingle also played a major role in the creation of the Virginia Aquarium Sensible Seafood Program, which helps local restaurateurs and food vendors select sustainable products and inspire their patrons to do the same. He was instrumental in the Aquarium’s designation as the first Virginia Green Attraction after helping establish the Aquarium’s “Green Team,” which continues to successfully implement sustainable practices onsite. Swingle’s advocacy efforts with state environmental partners recently reached a new milestone as Virginia became the first state in the nation to officially ban the intentional outdoor release of balloons, a campaign in which he was engaged for years. His work on sustainable practices is ongoing as he continues to meet with policymakers regarding legislation on single-use plastics.
As for accomplishments in decades past, Swingle helped design the Aquarium’s first exhibit on Virginia’s sea turtles, which was recognized as the Virginia Conservation Project of the Year by the Virginia Wildlife Federation in 1990. This project also awarded him the Virginia Beach City Manager’s Creativity, Innovation, and Public Service Award. In the past 30 years, Swingle has served on multiple committees and worked with grant-funded projects and state and federal agencies to develop the first conservation plans for sea turtles and marine mammals in Virginia. He has also served as a scientific coordinator and project manager for more than 100 grants and contracts, valued at more than $9 million, made to the Virginia Aquarium Foundation. In 2009, Swingle received the Virginia Beach City Employee of the Year Award from the Virginia Beach Rotary Club.
“Our future is bright because of Mark Swingle. His legacy is cherished and woven into what we do every day at the Virginia Aquarium,” says Cynthia Whitbred-Spanoulis, Director of the Virginia Aquarium. “We are grateful for everything he has done and congratulate him on this well-deserved and commemorative milestone.”
Additionally, Swingle has served on several key committees and boards, including: current Program Leader for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Sea Turtle SAFE Program; member and Chair of the Bycatch Prioritization Committee of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program for the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; member of NOAA Fisheries Bottlenose Dolphin and Large Whale Take Reduction Teams; and past President, board member, and Chair of Stranding Committee for the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums.
Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center's mission is to inspire conservation of the marine environment through education, research, and sustainable practices. The Aquarium is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. The Aquarium is also a member of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It is located at 717 General Booth Boulevard, just south of Rudee Inlet in Virginia Beach.
The Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, supports the work of the Virginia Aquarium. The Foundation procures and maintains the Aquarium's exhibits, including the animals and habitats. It is also responsible for annual and capital fundraising, administration and funding for the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program, conservation and scientific research efforts, and the Aquarium's mission-related education programs. Be a part of the mission by making a tax-deductible donation to support the programming.
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