Stephen Clark Selected as Superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania

Date: January 22, 2015
Contact: Beth Sciumeca, 518-583-7256

Northeast Regional Director Mike Caldwell has selected Stephen Clark to be superintendent of the National Parks of Western Pennsylvania, which include the Flight 93 National Memorial, Johnstown Flood National Memorial, Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site, Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Friendship Hill National Historic Site.

Clark will assume his duties in late March. He succeeds Jeff Reinbold, who was recently selected as assistant director for partnerships and civic engagement for the National Park Service (NPS).

"Steve has extensive experience with the National Park Service that will serve the park and community well," said Caldwell, "He is a strategic and thoughtful leader with a strong background in park operations. Those are strengths that are perfectly aligned with the long term vision for the Parks of Western Pennsylvania."

Clark is a 29-year veteran of the NPS, starting out his career in 1986 at two of the parks he will now be managing;Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Monument. Prior to joining the NPS, Clark also worked with Pennsylvania State Parks and the U.S. Forest Service. 

"It's an honor and a privilege to be selected for this position. I look forward to working with the partners and friends as well as the dedicated employees at each of the five parks," shared Clark.  "Each park is unique in its own right and I will collaborate and continue to foster the superb relationships that each park has with its neighbors and partners."

Clark comes to the new post from his position as the chief ranger for the Northeast Region where he has served in that role since January of 2011. Prior to that, Clark served as the branch chief of law enforcement and emergency services for the region. Clark will be attending an executive leadership program at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government later this month. 

Other park assignments have included chief ranger at Biscayne National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park, and park ranger at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and Shenandoah National Park. Significant detail assignments include superintendent at Congaree National Park and two details as chief ranger at Gulf Islands National Seashore in the aftermath of the Mississippi Canyon oil spill in 2010.

Clark holds a bachelor of science degree in Natural Resource Management with a concentration in Park Management from  Slippery Rock University and an associate's degree in Wildlife Technology from Pennsylvania State University. He also completed the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University and holds a certificate in the NPS Ranger Program, Slippery Rock University.

Clark enjoys spending time in the outdoors, especially golfing and fishing, and is an avid baseball fan. He especially enjoys time with his three daughters Brieanna, Erin, and Makenna, and his granddaughter Ellie Lynn.