Ward Named Yellowstone Maintenance Chief
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National Park Service Yellowstone National Park Al Nash or Dan Hottle ------------------------------------------------------------ Ward Named Yellowstone Maintenance Chief Nancy Ward was named Yellowstone's Chief of Maintenance by Superintendent Dan Wenk, effective January 29, 2012. Ward had been acting Chief of Maintenance since April 2011, replacing Steve Iobst, who is now Yellowstone's Deputy Superintendent. She will be responsible for managing more than 2,800 park assets, a $16 million operational maintenance budget with annual projects averaging $35 million and more than 200 full time employees - the largest park-based asset management program in the National Park Service (NPS). Ward began her NPS career as an engineer in 1977 after earning her bachelor's degree in civil engineering in 1975 from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and earning a master's degree in environmental engineering in 1977 from Tennessee. She worked for the Denver Service Center of the NPS and was stationed in Yellowstone from 1977 to 1983. In 1983 she transferred to the Maintenance Division in Yellowstone. Her most recent position was the Assistant Chief of Maintenance (Projects). Ward's work throughout her years in Yellowstone has primarily included design and construction project work starting with the rehabilitation of the park's water systems in 1977 to 1983. She has also managed the Park Road Reconstruction Program since 1985. Other programs include the replacement of employee mobile homes with housing units, the rehabilitation of various wastewater and water systems, the rehabilitation of numerous buildings and structures from backcountry cabins to visitor centers, and the ongoing replacement of miles of boardwalk trails in the park's thermal areas. She has also supervised Yellowstone's staff of engineers and landscape architects. Ward enjoys hiking, fishing and skiing in Yellowstone, participating in sports, following the University of Tennessee Lady Vols and the local Gardiner, Montana, school sports teams. - www.nps.gov/yell - Twitter: @YellowstoneNPS |
Did You Know?
Even though the animals of Yellowstone seem tame they are still wild. Feeding the animals is not permitted in any way, and all visitors must keep 100 yards away from wolves and bears, and 25 yards from other animals.