7-13-11: A Message of Conservation

A bird in the National Aquarium's rain forest gets friendly with David Pittenger, the institution's outgoing executive director. Photo by Stephanie Hughes.

David Pittenger has been working at the National Aquarium in some capacity since its inception 30 years ago.  He’s been the executive director half that time, and was instrumental in shaping much of what the aquarium is known for:  the mammal pavilion, its educational programming, and its strong message of conservation.

Now, he’s handing over the reins to John Racanelli, a veteran of the California aquarium industry, who starts later this month.  Before leaving, Dave Pittenger took Sheilah on a tour of the aquarium, starting with his favorite exhibit, the Amazon River Basin, and ending over the shark tank.