NEWS RELEASES
David Vela Nominated To Head The National Park Service
Editor's Note: This news item was retrieved and first published through The U.S. Department of the Interior's website.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On August 31, the Trump administration announced the nomination of David Vela to serve as the new director of the National Park Service (NPS). Vela has served as the superintendent of Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway since 2014. A lifetime employee of the NPS, Vela previously served as associate director for Workforce, Relevancy and Inclusion in the NPS Washington headquarters offices, spent over four years as the NPS Southeast Regional Director and was superintendent of Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site, Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park, and the George Washington Memorial Parkway. If confirmed by the Senate, he would be the first Hispanic American to head the NPS.
“I am deeply humbled by the President's nomination to serve as the 19th Director of the National Park Service, and if confirmed, I look forward to working with Secretary Zinke to address the NPS maintenance backlog, protect our national treasures, and serve all who come to enjoy the parks,” Vela said in a press release announcing his nomination. “Having worn the uniform of the National Park Service for more than 28 years, I greatly value all that it represents and the importance of ensuring that we build a next generation workforce that is ready to take on the challenges and opportunities facing our agency.”
Vela’s nomination received widespread approval from officials both inside and outside Washington. Read the press release here to learn more.