Chesapeake Conservancy Board Member John Reynolds, Champion of the Chesapeake Jonathan Doherty, Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn and NPS Chesapeake Bay Office Superintendent Wendy O’Sullivan.

A National Park Service veteran of four decades with the agency has been honored as "Champion of the Chesapeake" by the Chesapeake Conservancy.

Jonathan Doherty, who was assistant superintendent of the Park Service's Chesapeake Bay office, retired in April. Last week he was honored by the Conservancy for his commitment and passion for the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Doherty served as the first director of the NPS Chesapeake Bay Office after Congress passed the Chesapeake Bay Initiative Act in 1998. The legislation created the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, a network to identify, interpret, conserve, and restore Chesapeake resources and connect people to the Bay.

In his 22 years of service with the Chesapeake Bay office, Doherty helped build the Gateways Network and the Chesapeake Conservation Partnership, create hundreds of public access sites and oversee the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.

“In the early years of the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, Jonathan built a staff, established a working group of innovative thinkers from throughout the watershed, awarded millions of dollars in grants to Gateway projects, and established partnership agreements with more than 170 sites regionwide,” said John Reynolds, a member of the Chesapeake Conservancy’s board of directors and former deputy director of the National Park Service (retired), who presented the award on behalf of Chesapeake Conservancy. 

“Among the public servant recipients of the Champions of the Chesapeake award have been three former U.S. senators, the governors of Maryland and Virginia, and the former director of the National Park Service, Jon Jarvis. You are in good company, as it is my pleasure to present this Champion of the Chesapeake award to you, Jonathan Doherty, in recognition and appreciation of your countless contributions to conservation partnerships for the Chesapeake Bay,” said Reynolds at a recent gathering to celebrate Doherty’s retirement.

“Jonathan can take pride in the tangible conservation legacy he established in the Chesapeake, including protecting valued lands on the Rappahannock River, Potomac River, James River, Nanticoke River, at George Washington and Jefferson National Forests, and many other places. And perhaps his crowning achievement: a direct role in protecting the internationally significant Werowocomoco, an indigenous cultural landscape, spiritual center, and seat of leadership for Tidewater Algonquians,” added Chesapeake Conservancy President and CEO Joel Dunn.

Since 2014, Chesapeake Conservancy has recognized numerous individuals and organizations as Champions of the Chesapeake for their dedication to the conservation and preservation of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, and deemed a national treasure. Earlier this year, Chesapeake Conservancy awarded the Champions of the Chesapeake Award to Jason Fellon, watershed manager, Department of Environmental Protection, and Marcus Kohl, regional director, Department of Environmental Protection.

The 2020 Champions of the Chesapeake were Dennis Chestnut, Mariah Davis, Anna Killius, and River Rock Outfitter. Previous recipients include U.S. Senator Barbara S. Mikulski, U.S. Senator Paul S. Sarbanes, U.S. Senator John W. Warner, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Maryland State Senator Guy Guzzone, Pennsylvania State Senator Gene Yaw, Virginia Delegate David Bulova, former National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis (ret), Keith Campbell of The Campbell Foundation, former NOAA Fellow Kim Hernandez, former Assistant Director US Fish & Wildlife Service Dr. Mamie Parker, Chesapeake Bay Commission Executive Director Ann P. Swanson, Esri, Microsoft Corporation, Mt. Cuba Center, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, REI and Skyline Technology Solutions, Inc.