BOTHELL, WA, February 05, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present David John Rugh with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Mr. Rugh celebrates many years' experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his field. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
An accomplished Wildlife Biologist with over 35 years of professional experience, Mr. Rugh retired from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Seattle in 2010. Throughout the majority of his career, he was renowned for his research on the distribution and abundance of whales around Alaska. As a seasoned scientist, Mr. Rugh has authored or co-authored approximately 270 scientific documents between 1970 and 2017, of which 77 were published in peer-reviewed journals, including nearly 50 scientific articles on bowhead whales.
Mr. Rugh has been additionally active as a frequent speaker at numerous scientific meetings, media presentations, and workshops as well as a presenter on marine mammals of the Salish Sea for six different organizations. Moreover, he has been interviewed many times by such media outlets as the Discovery Channel, CBC Vancouver, and the Associated Press for his expertise on gray whale migration and abundance. A prominent member of the Marine Mammal Society, Mr. Rugh has also found success as a Guiding Committee Member and the Co-Chair of the Natural History Society of the Jefferson Land Trust.
In 2018, Mr. Rugh began writing poetry, which has included 'Autumn' in the book "There's a Thread You Follow" and 'Oceanside' in the book "A Congregation of Poets." Combining his expertise with his passion, he has been instrumental in his community as a facilitator for the Early Bird Book Group in Port Townsend, Washington; as a steward of protected properties in Jefferson County, Washington; and as a volunteer for many work parties for the Jefferson Land Trust, including playing a lead role in a wildlife monitoring project. Furthermore, since 2014, Mr. Rugh has assisted with an annual eight-week natural history course on the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Mr. Rugh has been in 74 First Aid sessions, of which he was a teacher in 30%.
Born and raised in the Himalayas of India, Mr. Rugh's upbringing significantly impacted his career choices later in life. Growing up, he was consistently drawn to the study of wildlife. Upon pursuing higher education, he focused his studies on biology, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Maryville College in 1970. Between 1970 and 1972, he was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger, West Africa, a program of reforestation and ecological studies on the edge of the Sahara, including starting a research laboratory. After getting a Master of Science in Zoology at the Ohio State University in 1976, he continued his studies with postgraduate coursework in marine mammalogy and photogrammetry at the University of Washington. Mr. Rugh is certified as a Level III Animal Tracker and had Certified Interpretive Guide Training.
Among his accolades and recognitions, Mr. Rugh was honored by the NOAA with Bronze Awards in 1997, 2002, and 2006; the Victor B. Scheffer Award from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in 2006; and NOAA's Distinguished Career Award in 2011. Moreover, he was presented with a Best Publication Award from the National Marine Fisheries Service in 2002. A celebrated Marquis listee, Mr. Rugh has been featured in the 65th edition of Who's Who in America.
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Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who's Who in America®, Marquis Who's Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Today, Who's Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® now publishes many Who's Who titles, including Who's Who in America®, Who's Who in the World®, Who's Who in American Law®, Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare®, Who's Who in Science and Engineering®, and Who's Who in Asia®. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who's Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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