Introducing Our New Executive Director

Shawn Fackler, M.A., RPA, has been appointed Executive Director of the Maritime Archaeological Society (MAS), bringing more than 20 years of leadership in cultural heritage management, archaeological research, and nonprofit governance.

Shawn is a senior-level cultural resources professional with extensive experience directing large, multidisciplinary teams and overseeing major archaeological programs across the U.S. and internationally. He works professionally within the Cultural Resources Management industry and currently serves as the Director of Growth & Strategy at SEARCH. He is a Secretary of the Interior–qualified archaeologist and Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA), with specialized training in bioarchaeology and human osteology.

He also brings nonprofit leadership experience, having served on the Board of Directors of the Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals (NWAEP), including a term as Treasurer. An avid diver, Shawn is deeply committed to the exploration and protection of submerged cultural resources and to expanding MAS’s mission of investigating, documenting, and preserving maritime heritage.