The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) has announced the appointment of David Szymanski as the new regional director for the Pacific West region. His jurisdiction will include parks in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, parts of Arizona and Montana. In addition to these states, he will also oversee parks in Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Szymanski is a seasoned professional with 25 years of experience with the National Park Service. He is set to assume his new role after the holiday season. In 2022, he served as the acting park service associate director for partnerships and civic engagement and is currently serving as the superintendent of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area since 2012. Upon assuming his new position, Szymanski will manage a team of 5,300 full-time and seasonal employees across more than 60 parks spanning 13 million acres. The visitors to these parks significantly contribute to the local economies where they are situated.
According to Deputy Director Frank Lands' statement in a press release from the National Park Service, Szymanski is "experienced in virtually every aspect of the NPS." Lands praised Szymanski's exceptional skills in relationship building and managing one of the country’s largest urban national parks.
Prior to his tenure at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Szymanski worked at Lewis and Clark Historical Park from 2007 to 2012. His work history includes collaborations with tribal leaders to develop Middle Village at Voyageurs National Park and stints at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Everglades National Park. He also offered his services as a volunteer with Peace Corps assisting Malagasy people in Madagascar’s newly organized national park system.
The Pacific West region comprises offices located in San Francisco, Seattle, and Honolulu. It includes NPS regions numbered from 8-12. According to the NPS website for the region, there is one park in Arizona; 28 parks, trails, and historical sites in California; nine parks, trails, and historical sites in Hawaii; five parks, historical sites, and monuments in Idaho; a national park, a national recreation area and a national monument in Nevada; a national battlefield in Montana; various parks, monuments, historical parks and preserves in Oregon; 14 parks, recreation areas and historical sites in Washington; one national park each in American Samoa and Guam; and one memorial park on the Northern Marian Islands.
