Date: January 27, 2009
Contact: Amy Vanderbilt, 406 888-5838
WEST GLACIER, MONT. – Glacier National Park Superintendent Chas Cartwright today announced that Jim Foster has been selected as the new Chief of Facility Management. Foster replaces John Kilpatrick who transferred to the Army Corp of Engineers in September 2008 after 10 years in the position.
Foster began his National Park Service (NPS) career at Glacier National Park as the park engineer in 2003. He became the deputy chief of facility management in early 2008 and has been acting Chief of Facility Management since Kilpatrick’s departure. As the manager for Glacier’s parkwide maintenance operation, Foster’s duties include oversight of all facility and infrastructure operations throughout the park including road operations and maintenance, building construction, building repair and rehabilitation, campground operations, budget oversight and management, fleet oversight, utility operations and maintenance, solid waste and recycling management and personnel management. This also includes park oversight and co-management of the ongoing Going-to-the-Sun Road rehabilitation along with counterparts at the Federal Highway Administration.
While serving as the park’s engineer from 2003 through 2007, Foster was responsible for managing various projects in the park as a Contracting Officer’s Representative and project manager, designing water and wastewater projects to support new construction, rehabilitation of existing facilities, overseeing the preparation and securing of regulatory permits, designing and reviewing construction specifications and engaging in all aspects of civil engineering design.
Foster served more than 25 years in the Army National Guard. From 1987 to 1993 he served in the Colorado Army National Guard in Longmont as both Battalion Administrative Officer and Battalion Executive Officer. During this time, Foster received the Meritorious Service Medal for active service with the Battalion. He commanded a Field Artillery Firing Battery for 26 months overlapping the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations in Kuwait. He became a Lieutenant Colonel in January 1999 and retired from military service in November 2004.
Prior to transferring to the NPS in March of 2003, Foster served as Department Manager and Lead Design Engineer with Missionary TECH Engineering in Longview, Texas.
Cartwright remarked, “Jim Foster brings a wealth of expertise and professionalism to his new position and will be a great asset to the park management team. I look forward to continuing to work with him.”
Originally from Massachusetts, Foster holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Colorado, Denver; he is a registered professional engineer in Arizona, Colorado and Montana. He serves as an elder at Whitefish Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Treasurer of Glacier Mountaineering Society and was previously active with the Boy Scouts of America as the former Scoutmaster of East Texas Boy Scout Troop 620.
Foster lives in Columbia Falls with his wife Deborah who works for the U.S. Postal Service in Kalispell. The Fosters have three grown children: Tara who is married to Amit Sood of Kinugasa, Japan, Saryna of Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Jimmy who lives in Bigfork. They also have two grandchildren: Anthony, 2, and Rohan, 8 months.
An avid hiker, climber/mountaineer, ice climber and skier, Foster spends as much time in the backcountry of Glacier and surrounding public lands as he can. His recent climbing accomplishments include summiting Mt. Fuji in Japan last September while visiting his daughter and son-in-law and new grandchild.
-NPS -
Editor’s Note: Digital images are available upon request from the Public Affairs Office.
