During his 30 years working with and in the private and public sectors, Craig Obey has been a change agent in organizational leadership roles and across public policy settings. He has brought his executive leadership to all aspects of mission-driven organizations, from advocacy to operations to fundraising, and has extensive experience in federal and state policymaking, organizational management, public affairs, and partnership development. His public policy experience includes such wide-ranging areas as conservation, health reform, mental and occupational health, active outdoor recreation, budget and appropriations, national parks, public lands, tribal affairs and transportation. He is particularly interested in the intersection between conservation and human health.

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Obey has held senior roles with a diverse array of conservation and healthcare organizations and as a federal government executive. He spent 15 years leading national advocacy and government relations for the National Parks Conservation Association, where his strategic alliances produced billions of dollars for the National Park System, advanced protection for public lands and established new national parks. He also served as chief of government relations for the American Psychiatric Association, where he oversaw federal and state advocacy and the APA Political Action Committee as part of the APA’s executive leadership.

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As deputy executive director & chief operating officer for Families USA, he oversaw all of Families USA’s operations and was a central founder in the primary national coalition that fought repeal of the Affordable Care Act. He has held federal executive roles in multiple agencies, including as director of intergovernmental and public affairs for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the US Department of Health and Human Services. His roles have also included volunteer leadership on multiple nonprofit boards, including the City Parks Alliance, where he served as treasurer during the COVID pandemic. Obey also held senior positions with a small technology consulting company, the top-rated public affairs firm in the nation’s capital and as a US Senate staff member.

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Obey has a home on the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, where he loves to kayak, canoe, hike and birdwatch. His love for the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed dates back to his youth, when he explored the creeks and runs of Virginia and sailed on the Bay. He received his BA from the University of Wisconsin and holds a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

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