Daniel J. Jacobs is retiring today as chief of the natural resource management and visitor protection division at Pecos National Historical Park following a 31-year federal career.

Dan was born and raised in Plainview, Minnesota, and attended the University of St Thomas, where he earned a BA degree in natural sciences in 1977 and an MA degree in teaching in 1978.  He spent a short time as a high school teacher and in 1977 began his federal career as a seasonal forestry technician on the San Juan National Forest in southwest Colorado.

Dan’s National Park Service career began in 1981 as a seasonal ranger at Death Valley National Park and he worked additional summer seasons as a ranger at Mesa Verde, Mount Rainier, Bryce Canyon and Shenandoah National Parks as well as at the Old Post Office Tower in Washington D.C. and Cape Hatteras National Seashore in North Carolina.   He also worked as a professional ski instructor between seasonal park ranger positions.

Dan accepted a permanent park ranger job at San Juan National Historical Park in 1986, and then went on to work at Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Crater Lake National Park,  and finally to Pecos National Historical Park.   

During his career as a ranger, Dan’s duties primarily involved law enforcement, emergency medical services, search and rescue, wildland and structural fire, and natural resources management. He has held interpretive, basic patrol, district, staff and chief park ranger positions.

Over the years, Dan has been privileged to participate in many special events in areas all around the country. In addition, as a member of a type 1 National Interagency Incident Management Team, he responded to numerous large wildland fires and national emergencies such as the 911 incident in New York City and Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Along with many special visitors and coworkers he has had the opportunity to meet or work with; Dan most fondly remembers many unique park areas in which he has been fortunate to work and live.  Some of his favorite memories include working with sea turtles and nesting shore birds on the beaches of North Carolina; kayaking Death Valley Wash; skiing around Crater Lake; climbing Mount Rainier and exploring the backcountry ruins at Mesa Verde.

Dan and Dee Renee can now be found at home in Port Angeles, Washington, where they plan to spend time with Dee Renee’s father and her menagerie of critters. Dan can be reached at djjacobs1@juno.com.

Contact Information
Name: Daniel J Jacobs, DJacobs@nps.gov
Phone Number: 505-438-1157
Email: Daniel_J_Jacobs@nps.gov