Rick Dove - Waterkeeper
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Rick Dove

Rick Dove

Senior Advisor

Since 2/9/15

Rick has been a part of the Waterkeeper movement since 1993. He was one of the founding members of the Waterkeeper Alliance and served on its first Board of Directors. As the former Riverkeeper for the Neuse River, and one of the first Riverkeepers in the southeast, Rick assisted in the birth of many of the Waterkeeper programs in North Carolina as well as many others across the country. He holds the honorary title of Waterkeeper Alliance Board Member Emeritus and Neuse Riverkeeper Emeritus.

As the Neuse Riverkeeper, Rick pioneered the use of aircraft in documenting sources of pollution. During the 1990s, his advocacy on behalf of the Neuse River pertaining to its horrific fish kills and human health impacts resulting from the deadly vampire organism, Pfiesteria, gained worldwide attention. Major reforms in pollution practices throughout the Neuse watershed resulted. As a photo journalist, his photographs and videos have appeared in countless media reports and documentaries throughout the world. He has been featured in a number of important books, including Animal Factory, And the Waters Turned to Blood, This Moment on Earth, Crimes against Nature and Righteous Pork Chop.

Prior to joining the Waterkeeper movement, Rick, a licensed attorney, served as a United States Marine. After 25 years, and serving twice in Vietnam, he retired as a Colonel and Military Judge. His many honors include the EPA Region IV Merit Award, being named one of Time Magazine/Time for Kids Heroes of the Planet and being honored by the Raleigh News and Observer who named him 1of 100 people who have shaped North Carolina in the past Century (N&O August 22, 1999).

Rick now advises the Waterkeeper Alliance’s Pure Farms, Pure Waters campaign in North Carolina. This campaign has served as a nationwide model for its effectiveness in the prevention of environmental abuses of industrial animal factories.

Rick resides with his lovely wife, Joanne, on the Neuse River near New Bern, North Carolina.

    Staff

    • Larry Baldwin

      Campaign Coordinator
      Pure Farms, Pure Waters
      North Carolina

    • Christian Breen

      Field Investigator

    • Patience Burke

      Organizer
      Gulf and South Atlantic

    • Colin Campbell

      Database Manager

    • Rachel Cook

      Chief Finance and Operations Officer

    • María Victoria Díaz-González

      Organizer

    • Rick Dove

      Senior Advisor

    • Daniel E. Estrin

      General Counsel and Advocacy Director

    • Kelly Hunter Foster

      Senior Attorney
      Campaign Manager
      Clean Water Defense

    • Lori Harrison

      Communications and Marketing Director

    • Kate Hudson

      Advocacy Coordinator
      Climate and Energy

    • Thomas Hynes

      Staff Writer

    • Katherine Luscher

      Training Director

    • Bart Mihailovich

      Organizing Director

    • Kerri Murdy

      Human Resources Manager

    • Mary Beth Postman

      Deputy Director

    • Marcelle Prescott

      Office Administrator

    • Richard Reeve

      Institutional Giving Officer

    • Nadia Rivera

      Special Assistant to the CEO

    • Hailey Savage

      Training Associate - Events

    • Gabrielle Segal

      Senior Training Associate - Online Trainings

    • Chris Wilke

      Global Advocacy Manager

    • Marc Yaggi

      Chief Executive Officer

    • Min Zheng

      Senior Organizer
      Asia

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