DCR Director Joe Maroon

Joseph H. Maroon, Agency Director
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

Former Gov. Mark Warner appointed Joe Maroon director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) in March 2002. Joe was reappointed by Gov. Timothy Kaine in January 2006. The reappointment made him the first DCR director to be reappointed in nearly 20 years. For more than two decades, Maroon has been instrumental in the successful passage and implementation of numerous legislative and program advancements related to water quality, land conservation, Chesapeake Bay restoration, outdoor recreation and dam safety. Several governors and the legislature have appointed Joe to numerous state boards and commissions, including the Virginia Board of Conservation and Recreation where he served as vice-chair for six years. He was recognized in 2000 by a poll of environmental professionals statewide as one of the four top conservation leaders in Virginia. In 2006, he was presented with the Leadership Award from the Virginia Water Resources Research Center for distinguished service in the area of water resources.

Joe provides executive leadership at DCR, a state agency with broad goals: operate an award-winning state parks system; serve as the state’s lead non-point source water quality agency; initiate statewide programs to reduce pollutants in the Chesapeake Bay and Virginia’s waterways; inventory natural habitats and manage the state natural area preserve system; regulate the safety of dams and impounding structures; provide state outdoor recreation planning assistance; and facilitate statewide land conservation. Under his leadership, DCR has received widespread recognition for numerous accomplishments and has been given additional and expanded responsibilities including those relating to stormwater management, land preservation tax credits, the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and implementation of the largest statewide bond package for state parks and natural areas in Virginia history.

In 2009, Maroon received the following awards:

The Gerald McCarthy Leadership Award for Environmental Conflict Resolution from the University of Virginia's Institute of Environmental Negotiation and the Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute.
The Friend of Land Conservation Award from the Virginia United Land Trusts.
A special recognition award from the Virginia Lakes and Watershed Association for leadership on dam safety and stormwater regulations.

His previous experience includes providing leadership for important private conservation and legislative organizations, including serving for more than 16 years as the Virginia executive director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He also served as a principal legislative analyst for the state’s watchdog agency, the Virginia Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission.

He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degrees in political science and public administration from Virginia Tech. A resident of Midlothian, Va., Joe and his wife Anne have two sons. He plays drums, 12-string guitar, sings, is active in their church and has served as a youth baseball coach.