Rob Mortensen

Rob Mortensen has been on staff at the Aquarium of the Pacific since before its opening.

He has been instrumental in establishing the Aquarium’s Guam Kingfisher breeding program as part of one of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plans (SSP) for these rare exotic birds. He previously served as a zookeeper at the Santa Barbara Zoo, a senior aquarist at the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, and an attack helicopter crew chief for the U.S. Army. He earned his bachelor’s degree in zoology and geology from Western Illinois University. Key areas of expertise include marine biology, ocean conservation, horticulture, penguins, sea otters, seals, sea lions, Southern California terrestrial reptiles and birds, and the critically endangered Guam Kingfisher.