Gil Grosvenor

Gil Grosvenor is the Chairman Emeritus of the National Geographic Society's board of trustees and its Education Foundation, as well as an Honorary Director of the Explorers Club. He retired June 1, 1996, as President of the Society — he was the fifth generation of his family to serve in that position. He will share his insider’s perspective with Lindblad Expedition guests.

Grosvenor was born in Washington, D.C. and graduated from Yale University. He first joined the Society staff as a picture editor. He served as the editor of National Geographic magazine from 1970 to 1980, when he became the Society's 14th president. A member of the board of trustees since 1966, he was elected chairman in 1987.

In June 2004 Grosvenor was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States. The National Park Service also awarded him an Honorary National Park Ranger Award. He is a director or trustee of numerous foundations and corporations, including Chevy Chase Trust, The Jason Foundation, Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund International, National Wildflower Research Center and Federal City Council (Washington). He also is a member emeritus of the board of visitors of Duke University's Nicholas School of the Environment; chairman emeritus of the foundation board of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf; former vice chairman, President's Commission on Americans Outdoors; and former member of the President's Commission on Environmental Quality.