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Contact: Christie Anastasia, 207 288-8806
BAR HARBOR, ME – Acadia National Park Superintendent Kevin Schneider announced the selection of Thérèse Picard as chief ranger. Picard served previously as the park's deputy chief ranger.
“We are pleased to share that Thérèse is now the chief ranger at Acadia National Park,” said Schneider. “She has done an excellent job as deputy chief ranger and her leadership, experience, and strong collaboration skills will carry forward into her new role.”
The chief ranger works with staff and partners to protect and preserve the park. That includes overseeing and leading the law enforcement rangers, the rangers who assist with entrance passes, fire management, life guards, emergency medical services, and search and rescue.
“I am honored to be selected for this important position at Acadia National Park,” says Picard. “After serving as a volunteer of Mount Desert Island Search and Rescue for a number of years, I started my seasonal career in law enforcement at Acadia and I am still inspired by the work here, 17 years later. I have a deep commitment to this park and this island, and I look forward to working with the surrounding communities to protect this special place and keep visitors safe.”
With more than 17 years of experience with the National Park Service (NPS), Picard has held numerous leadership positions since she started her career at Acadia. While at Acadia in 2005, Picard jointly managed an NPS-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) project focusing on impaired driving and occupational safety on federal lands throughout the country. She continued on this project through her transfer to Zion National Park, UT in 2008. She served as a supervisory district ranger and then as the law enforcement specialist at Zion until her return to Acadia in 2017. She has also held several acting details as chief ranger at Zion and Acadia national parks. Picard served as the acting chief ranger for Acadia from September to March of this year.
Picard graduated from Carleton College with a degree in American Studies and a concentration in Educational Studies. Picard also holds a Masters in Park and Resource Management from Slippery Rock University. An avid hiker and baker, she already lives on Mount Desert Island and looks forward to her new role.