Joe manages VOF’s Bull Run Mountains Natural Area Preserve in Northern Virginia, which is VOF’s largest and most-visited reserve. His focus is on implementing science-based management practices that balance the conservation needs of the property, while maximizing its scientific and educational potential. Originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland, Joe grew up in the rural landscape of Fauquier County and considers the small towns of Paris, Delaplane, and Marshall home. Fascinated with animals at an early age, he would go on to earn his bachelor’s in conservation biology and master’s in environmental science and policy (with a focus on biocomplexity) from George Mason University. Before coming to VOF, Joe worked for the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History, where he received a Peer Recognition Award for his contributions. Joe is a passionate advocate for habitat conservation, field and specimen-based scientific research, and making science more accessible to the general public.