After more than 35 years of service to the Sea Grant network, Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium Director LaDon Swann will retire on Dec. 31. He will continue to serve Sea Grant in his part-time role as the National Sea Grant Aquaculture Liaison.
“Coming from western Appalachia in Tennessee, I had never heard of Sea Grant until I applied for a position at Purdue University through the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program, Swann said. “I came to Sea Grant for the science, but have stayed for the people. I have always believed in being responsive to the needs of the people we serve through applied science and strong education and engagement programs. Sea Grant is a great value for the taxpayers who support the program. My wife and I have raised two sons on the Gulf Coast, and I have a tremendous sense of pride that they have learned to appreciate the coast as much as I do. I wish only the best to everyone I have had the honor of getting to know over the years. You will not be forgotten.”
Swann’s Sea Grant career began in 1989 as the first aquaculture Extension specialist with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program. Drawing on his earlier experiences as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer and aquaculture trainer in West Africa, he became known for combining “boots-on-the-ground” Extension with innovative tools that expanded access to aquaculture information. One of his earliest contributions was the creation of the Aquaculture Network Information Center (AquaNIC), a web-based platform focused on aquaculture. For years, AquaNIC served as the main national source for aquaculture information, helping producers, Extension professionals and students build skills, businesses and careers.
In 2000, Swann joined the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, where he served as associate director and, beginning in 2002, director. His leadership helped transform aquaculture in the Gulf region, particularly oyster farming. During his tenure, oyster aquaculture in Alabama and Mississippi grew from zero farms into a multimillion-dollar industry. Swann played a key role in workforce training, apprenticeship programs and supporting research that continues to improve the industry.
“LaDon has given 25 years of steady, thoughtful leadership to the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium,” said The University of Southern Mississippi Vice President for Research Kelly Lucas, vice chair of Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant’s board of directors. “He built a program rooted in practical solutions, strong partnerships and dedication to assisting communities across the coast. His national work in aquaculture, his commitment to education, his research with real-world impact and the consistency he brought to every role have shaped this consortium in ways that will last well beyond his tenure. We’re deeply grateful for the legacy he leaves.”
In his role as the national Sea Grant aquaculture liaison, Swann led the development of the 10-Year NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Vision (2016) and the new 10-Year Sea Grant Aquaculture Roadmap (2025-2035), aligning Sea Grant programs around shared priorities. His leadership inspired the creation of Sea Grant communities of practice and tools, such as the Coastal Community Resilience Index and the Oyster Farming Resilience Index, which communities and businesses use across the country.
At Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant, Swann led a responsive program through the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (2005), the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (2010), the two 2019 openings of the Bonnet Carré Spillway that released freshwater into the Mississippi Sound and caused negative effects, such as harmful algal blooms, fisheries disasters and Mississippi beach closures, and the COVID-19 pandemic that affected many coastal industries, including the seafood and tourism industries.
“LaDon has made positive impacts at the local, regional and national levels throughout his career,” said Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Deputy and Outreach Director Steve Sempier, who will be taking on the role as director Jan. 1. “He is an exceptional leader, and I have greatly valued his mentorship and his many words of wisdom. He leaves our Sea Grant program in a much better place than when he first began here, and he has fostered many long-standing, strong partnerships and personal relationships throughout Alabama, Mississippi and beyond that will continue even after he retires.”
In recognition of his career-long achievements, the National Sea Grant Extension Assembly named Swann the 2025 recipient of the William Q. Wick Visionary Career Leadership through Programming Award. The honor reflected his national Extension leadership.
Meet the author
Melissa Schneider
Communications Coordinator
Melissa Schneider coordinates public information, educational media and communication services for Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. Some of MASGC's communications projects include our website, social... Read more
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