Aquarium of the Pacific Announces New President CEO: International Conservation and Animal Welfare Leader Jeffrey Flocken

November 10, 2025

The Aquarium of the Pacific is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeffrey Flocken as its new President and CEO. He will lead the Aquarium in its ongoing quest to be a trailblazer in species conservation and animal welfare. He brings to the organization a wealth of knowledge and connections in policy, communications, conservation science, sustainability, fundraising and managing teams to enact change to better the lives of animals, empower communities and save species.

"The Aquarium is not just a place to connect with animals and nature. We are committed to conserving our planet. We already have important programs that are saving species, but want to take this to the next level," said Aquarium of the Pacific Board Chair Jennifer Hagle. "We are thrilled to welcome Jeffrey Flocken and all of the knowledge and expertise he brings to establish the Aquarium of the Pacific as a national and international leader in conservation."

Flocken's prior experience includes roles as President, Humane Society International; North American Regional Director, International Fund for Animal Welfare; International Affairs Specialist at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Director of Education, Policy and Outreach, Conservation International; and Endangered Species Outreach Manager, National Wildlife Federation. He has a Juris Doctor from the Wayne State School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Communications and English from the University of Michigan.

"I am honored to be joining the nationally esteemed institution of the Aquarium of the Pacific," said Jeff Flocken, Aquarium of the Pacific President and CEO. "Having devoted my life to trying to make the planet a better place for animals and people, the Aquarium of the Pacific is the perfect place for me to not only focus on marine life, but also embrace the vibrant community in Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles area."

"The City of Long Beach looks forward to welcoming Jeffrey Flocken to serve as the Aquarium of the Pacific's next President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Flocken has the right blend of vision, experience and integrity to lead the organization and its dynamic workforce into their next chapter. His proven track record of inspiring others and achieving ambitious goals will be invaluable in the years ahead as the Aquarium seeks to continue to inspire locals in new ways and elevate its status as a regional and national destination," said Long Beach City Manager Tom Modica.

Flocken is Co-Founder of Emerging Wildlife Conservation Leaders, an international organization dedicated to training and mentoring up-and-coming leaders in the wildlife conservation field. The organization works to foster the skills necessary to succeed in advocacy campaigning and organizational leadership, empowering local communities in conservation. In his role, Flocken stewarded the growth of over 250 professionals from across the wildlife conservation field.

He also serves on the boards and steering committees for the Great Plains Foundation, Jackson Wild Wildlife Film Festival and Conservation Summit, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Tapir Specialist Group, and Jaguar Conservation Fund of Brazil. Flocken served as a legislative policy advisor for the Koala Conservation Summit. He has published work related to giraffes, pangolins and African lions, including co-authoring the book "Wildlife Heroes" on 40 of the world's leading conservationists and the animals they are committed to saving. He also co-created the Cannes Lions top-award winning short advocacy film "Save Ralph."

During his career, he delivered major animal welfare and conservation policy victories in the United States, South Africa, United Kingdom, Mexico, the European Union, Vietnam, Costa Rica, South Korea, Canada, Brazil, and India, among other countries. These include launching street dog and cat health efforts caring for millions of at-risk companion animals and ending the dog meat trade in South Korea.

Flocken will be joined in Long Beach by his wife, Mary Crimmings, and their daughter Collette, as well as their rescued dog and cat, Chewbacca and Dasher