Joseph H. Maroon

Executive Director, Virginia Environmental Endowment

Joe Maroon has served as Executive Director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment since May 2013. VEE is a leading independent, private grant making foundation recognized for the impact its grants to nearly 500 organizations have made on the environment since 1977. He previously was appointed by two governors to serve as agency director for the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.  He was also the first Virginia Executive Director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, served as a senior staff member of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission, and operated his own environmental consulting practice.  Between 2012 and 2019, Joe served as a fellow/adjunct faculty member for the Virginia Tech Executive Master’s in Natural Resources Program. He has also taught graduate classes on environmental policy at the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.  He has served on numerous boards and commissions and is currently a member of the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Citizens Advisory Committee and the Statewide Advisory Board to the Virginia Water Resources Center.  Maroon has also received several awards including the 2000 Outstanding Environmental Leader Award in Virginia, the 2009 Gerald McCarthy Award for Environmental Conflict Resolution from UVA, and the Virginia Water Resources Leadership Award in 2006 from Virginia Tech. In 2010, the Virginia General Assembly passed a commending resolution honoring him for his career and contributions. In 2018, Maroon was honored to be the Virginia inductee to the National Association of Conservation Districts Hall of Fame in recognition of his career and service. In 2022, Virginia Forever honored Maroon with the Bridge Builder Award for his lifetime of work on restoring the Chesapeake Bay.  He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Virginia Tech and is a long-suffering Cleveland sports fan.