Captain Gary Culver, Aquatic Sampling Manager and Vessel Captain
Serves as captain aboard the NOAA research vessel Chesapeake, plus a variety of smaller outboard federal vessels. Provides safe procedural guidance for watercraft involved in scientific research, educational tours, and collaborative use by outside sources. Co-develops and instructs the laboratory's annual NOAA Small Boat and Emergency Refresher Training, the In-Water Safety Equipment Training, and additional safety training courses for assigned state and federal staff. Directly supports the Department of Natural Resources Fishing and Boating Services as Eastern Region certified instructor for First Aid, CPR and AED two-year certified course requirement.​

George Edmonds, GIS Analyst
Project: Geospatial Mapping
Leads the creation, analysis, and QA/QC maintenance of Fishing and Boating Services spatial data for use in mapping applications and other related mapping products. Performs statistical and spatial analysis on datasets for scientific purposes using Geographical Information Systems. Provides advice, guidance and assistance to other GIS users and provides training when necessary. Manages and manipulates shellfish, finfish, and wildlife data in support of healthy Chesapeake Bay ecosystems and constituent services.

Barbara Johnston, Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Deputy Director for DNR
Supervises all Department of Natural Resources lab projects as Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Deputy Director-DNR, and assists Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Director-NOAA with joint NOAA/DNR activities. Leads the Fishing and Boating Services Aquatic Animal Health Program supervising projects for wild fish health research and monitoring, shellfish health research and monitoring, and the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory. Develops and implements fish health policy, oversees fish and shellfish health issues for imports and in-state movements, and works with Fishing and Boating Services Freshwater Fisheries Program staff to manage permitting activities. As an Aquatic Animal Health Inspector, works with Fishing and Boating Services fish culture facilities on annual fish health inspections, fish health problems, and best management practices. Represents Maryland as the fish health specialist on inter-jurisdictional fish health issues and committees such as the Northeast Fish Health Committee.

Stuart Lehmann, Natural Resources Biologist/Histotechnologist
Project: Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory
Diagnostics and Histology Laboratory staff member. Provides diagnostic and histological services to state aquatic animal disease research and health monitoring projects at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory. Performs necropsies, quantitative diagnostic microbiological assays, and routine and special histological processing and staining for protozoan pathogens of molluscs.

Keith Lockwood, Fisheries Biologist
Writes the weekly fishing reports, fishing related articles and develops content for the Fishing and Boating Services website. Responsible for answering Fishing and Boating Services related customer service inquiries. Maintains state records of Maryland sport fish; verifies and certifies all record submissions and writes related press releases. Tournament director for the Maryland Fishing Challenge award program for trophy sport fish caught by anglers, as well as all catch & release awards and youth fishing programs. Involved in developing video material for the Fishing and Boating Services website and distribution; coordinates the Fishing and Boating Services displays at sportsman's shows as well as outreach and education to the Maryland fishing community.​

Mark Matsche, Natural Resources Biologist, Fish Pathologist
Project: Wild Fish Health
Leads health-related research and diagnostics of wild fish populations in the Chesapeake Bay area. Projects focus on investigations of infectious disease, including bacterial disease (mycobacteriosis) in striped bass, and non-infectious diseases, such as liver disease and contaminant exposures in white perch. Project activities include disease monitoring and development of health indicators for Chesapeake Bay fishes using histological and clinical pathology tools. Collaborates with state, federal, and university partners to conduct basic and applied research on potential associations between fish health and environmental quality. Provides diagnostic services for the investigation of fish kills or unusual disease outbreaks, assists with health maintenance of aquaculture fish, and responds to public inquiries of fish health issues or questions.

Brian Preziosi, Natural Resource Biologist, Shellfish Pathologist
Project: Shellfish Health
Provides diagnostic examinations to detect known and emerging mollusk pathogens, parasites, and pathologies of wild and aquaculture shellfish in Maryland waters. These activities inform DNR resource managers about the health status of economically and ecologically important aquatic resources and provide guidance to the DNR Aquaculture Program and private shellfish aquaculture.

Kevin Rosemary, Natural Resources Biologist
Project: Wild Fish Health
Investigates fish morbidity and mortality events, provides routine finfish health monitoring, and designs and conducts fish health research in the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Collects fisheries life history data, performs necropsy examinations, describes gross and microscopic pathology of fish, and writes fish pathology reports.

Jacob Shaner, Natural Resources Biologist
Project: Wild Fish Health
Investigates disease in wild fish populations through microscopy, serology, hematology and bacteriology. Specific projects include studying relationships between habitat quality and fish health, bacterial disease monitoring in striped bass, and fish kill response. Additionally assists with response and research of marine mammal and sea turtle stranding, health assessments of hatchery stocks, and maintenance and operation of the DNR Oxford small boat fleet.

Jim Uphoff, Program Manager
Project: Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystems
Please visit the Fisheries Habitat and Ecosystems web page for a project description.

Amanda Weschler, Natural Resources Biologist/Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Stranding Coordinator
Project: Fish and Wildlife Health
Coordinates and responds to all deceased marine mammals and sea turtles in Maryland waters. Conducts and leads necropsy examinations in the lab and field. Additional responsibilities include the management of samples collected for diagnostic analysis, all stranding cases and associated data, and marine mammal and sea turtle related grant writing and management. Collaborates with state and federal agencies regarding stranded animals, and works with stranding collaborators, students, and volunteers to provide research and training opportunities.