A lifelong environmentalist and native of western Pennsylvania, Larry Schweiger was appointed president and chief executive officer of PennFuture in July 2015. He was formerly the president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, where he served as president for 10 years and an additional 14 years as the federation’s senior vice president of conservation programs and in other federation capacities. Under Schweiger’s leadership, fighting climate change became the group's top priority. Schweiger was also first vice president of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and president and chief executive officer of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for more than eight years. He served as executive director of the Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Schweiger is the founding chairman of the National Institute for Conservation Leadership, an organization dedicated to strengthening volunteer leadership in America’s conservation and environmental organizations. He worked with former Vice President Al Gore to launch Climate Reality, and currently serves on the organization’s board and as chair of the Climate Reality Action Fund. Schweiger also acted as the founding executive director of the Friends of Gettysburg National Parks, the most successful national park friends' organization in the nation. For his many conservation efforts, Waynesburg University honored him with a Doctor of Humane Letters. In 2011, PennFuture presented him its Visionary Award for leadership in raising awareness about the impacts of climate change and for his commitment to clean energy solutions. Schweiger is married with three daughters and five grandsons, and lives in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. He is an avid fresh and saltwater angler, boater and canoeist; highly regarded nature photographer; and author. His book, “Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth,” won first prize for nonfiction and first prize for science at the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. He is currently finishing a second book.