Last updated: August 5, 2026
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2026 Director's Management and Administration Awards
The Director’s Management and Administration Awards celebrate outstanding contributions that advance the essential functions of management, administration, information technology, and information management. These awards recognize individuals and teams for their innovation, service, and servicewide impact. Their dedicated work is a cornerstone of the National Park Service’s success.
The excellence awards specifically honor those who go beyond their day-to-day responsibilities to solve problems, seize opportunities, and drive progress through creative thinking and action.
These 2026 awards highlight achievements from 2025, showcasing the continued commitment and ingenuity of our workforce.
Excellence in Recreation Fee Management
This award honors an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership, accountability, and innovation in the management of recreation fee programs. It recognizes sustained excellence in strategic planning, operational execution, and financial stewardship that advances visitor services, protects park resources, strengthens internal controls, and delivers measurable outcomes in support of the National Park Service mission.
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NoeMesha Williams
Recreation Fee Technician, San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park
Recreation Fee Technician NoeMesha Williams introduced a new operational model for remittance programs that enabled parks in the Pacific West Region to streamline fee operations and collaborate more effectively.
When Joshua Tree National Park needed help, NoeMesha took on the task of processing over $2,000,000 in park revenue. She did this while also fulfilling her regular responsibilities at San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park.
NoeMesha’s approach resolved a critical backlog and set a precedent for cooperation between parks. Efficient fee processing ensured parks could maintain essential services and adapt to increased visitor demand. This directly benefitted National Park Service staff and the public. NoeMesha’s model encouraged resilience and creative problem solving. It helped parks sustain high-quality visitor experiences and financial integrity.
Enhancing Visitor Experience Through Recreation Fee Management Team Award
This award honors a team that exemplifies collaborative leadership and outstanding performance in the management of recreation fee programs. It recognizes cross-functional coordination, innovation, and operational excellence that enhance fee program integrity, improve visitor experience, and ensure the effective reinvestment of recreation fees, resulting in measurable servicewide or regional impact.
Photo courtesy of Allison Christofis
Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Beauchamp
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Recreation Fee Program
Washington Support Office
The National Park Service Recreation Fee Program team launched the digital America the Beautiful Pass, the new Non-Resident Pass, and the non-resident entrance fee. Team members delivered these innovative solutions under tight deadlines, changing policies, and significant transitions. They modernized public access to federal recreation sites and streamlined operations. They set new standards for customer service and fraud protection. It was an outstanding achievement.
This initiative was a milestone for the National Park Service. It helped expand access, reduce barriers, and protect resources through compliant fee collection. The digital pass enhanced the visitor experience by making entry easier and more reliable. It also improved transparency and operational stewardship. Millions of visitors benefited from a faster, more inclusive way to enjoy America’s public lands. The Recreation Fee Program team’s dedication exemplified excellence in public administration and service to the American people.
Leadership in Concessions & Commercial Services
This award honors an individual who demonstrates exceptional leadership, technical expertise, and accountability in concessions and commercial services management. It recognizes sustained excellence in administering concession contracts or commercial use permits, strengthening public-private partnerships, and ensuring compliance with policy and regulatory requirements, while advancing visitor services, protecting park resources, and supporting the National Park Service mission through sound business practices and continuous improvement.
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Julie Gregg-Bubac
Chief of Commercial Services, Yellowstone National Park
Chief of Commercial Services Julie Gregg-Bubac led Yellowstone National Park's Commercial Services Program through a year of significant operational complexity. She delivered measurable improvements in accountability, contract management, and visitor service.
Julie achieved 100% compliance in annual performance reporting for all 65 concession contracts. She directed oversight of nearly $55 million in concessioner-funded infrastructure improvements. She completed 120 contract management inspections and advanced critical interagency agreements. And she successfully launched the next 10-year over-snow vehicle tour concession opportunities.
Her leadership strengthened workforce performance and improved operational efficiencies. She identified nearly $500,000 in annual cost savings in the park's medical services contract.
Julie’s work ensured high-quality visitor services and protected public investments. She strengthened stewardship of park resources through effective commercial services oversight. This project improved accountability, modernized contract administration, and invested in critical infrastructure. It enhanced the visitor experience while safeguarding the park's resources. Julie's leadership established a stronger operational foundation that benefited park visitors, concession partners, and the National Park Service well beyond the contract cycle.
Enhancing Visitor Experience Through Commercial Services
This award honors a team that exemplifies collaborative leadership and high performance in concessions and commercial services management. It recognizes cross-functional coordination, innovation, and operational excellence in the administration of concession contracts and commercial use permits that enhance visitor experience, improve consistency and efficiency, strengthen oversight and accountability, and deliver measurable outcomes in support of the National Park Service mission and servicewide improvement goals.
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The IMR Regional Commercial Services Team
Intermountain Region
The Intermountain Region Commercial Services Team completed 99% of all required annual overall ratings of concessioners for the 2024 performance year. It was a historic milestone, the highest completion rate ever achieved by any National Park Service region. The team accomplished this while managing nearly half of all ratings across the bureau.
The Commercial Services Team’s success resulted from proactive collaboration with park staff, consistent communication, standardized tools, and a strong culture of accountability. Its coordinated approach established a sustainable framework for performance management. This approach strengthened concession oversight and set a new national benchmark for program execution.
Annual overall ratings are essential. They ensure concessioners deliver safe, high-quality visitor services, operate in a manner that protects park resources, and comply with National Park Service standards. The team significantly improved rating completion and strengthened partnerships with parks. That led to enhanced accountability and supported informed contract management decisions. It reinforced consistent stewardship across the region.
The work of the Intermountain Region Commercial Services Team improved the visitor experience and protected public resources. It provided a lasting model for effective commercial services oversight throughout the National Park Service.
Excellence in Budget Formulation and Execution
This award recognizes outstanding achievement and exemplary leadership in the field of budget formulation and execution. It recognizes an individual or team that has demonstrated impact, innovation, efficiency, sustainability, and/or collaboration, resulting in measurable success and significant contributions.
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Debbie England, Heather O'Grady, Josh Wilcoxen, Kristi Brown
Midwest Region
The Midwest Team—Debbie England, Heather O'Grady, Josh Wilcoxen, and Kristi Brown—strengthened cross‑regional cooperation and coordinated with the national comptroller community. As a result, they provided consistent financial guidance to parks across the National Park Service.
The team increased efficiency in budget execution and financial operations by supporting the modernization of the Administrative Financial System. This ensured that the modernization addressed park operational needs and enhanced usability. Team members also provided operational support to parks. They executed budget transfers and managed reconciliations. They processed park purchase requests and approved permanent change of station travel actions. They delivered timely status‑of‑funds updates and resolved out‑of‑compliance, undelivered orders.
The team advanced financial stewardship and operational performance by ensuring alignment with administration priorities and communicating appropriations and policy guidance clearly. This enabled parks and programs to make informed decisions. The team worked to support process improvement, increase cross-regional cooperation and address park capacity constraints. Through their work, team members displayed a shared commitment to excellence in budget formulation and execution.
Best Practices in Fiscal Transparency and Accountability
This award recognizes exceptional leadership, integrity, and diligence in managing budgetary resources. It honors those who uphold the highest standards of accountability, compliance, and transparency, ensuring budgets are executed with accuracy, efficiency, and resilience.
Photo courtesy of Christy Morgan
Christy Morgan
Budget Analyst, Gettysburg National Military Park
As a member of the regional Administrative Advisory Committee, Budget Analyst Christy Morgan worked to improve business practices across the Northeast Region of the National Park Service. She also helped train employees in other regions.
Christy ensured fiscal practices were consistent with policy. She helped provide clear guidance to an audience with varying levels of understanding of fiscal concepts. Her efforts ensured that parks across the region could complete their budget reconciliation and run an accurate status of funds.
Christy made time to sit with individuals and teams to teach them key budget principles, practices, and techniques. She did this to effectively convey their fiscal responsibilities. Her willingness and ability to share her knowledge of best practices in fiscal transparency and accountability strengthened the region and parks across the National Park Service.
Administration Leader of the Year
This award honors individuals who consistently deliver exceptional service and exceed customer expectations. It celebrates outstanding communication, problem solving, and responsiveness, all of which contribute to a positive customer experience.
Photo courtesy of Kathi Palacio
Kathi Palacio
Administration and Business Services Program Manager, Point Reyes National Seashore
Administration and Business Services Program Manager Kathi Palacio showed exceptional leadership during a period of significant change across the Pacific West Region. In 2025, Kathi skillfully managed Point Reyes National Seashore's budget operations while absorbing additional responsibilities related to housing, special use permits, and commercial use authorizations.
When Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's administrative officer position unexpectedly became vacant, Kathi stepped in to manage that park's budget as well. She met weekly with staff and leadership to oversee more than $58 million across over 250 tracking accounts. Throughout, she prioritized mentoring newer employees and building systems that empowered staff to solve problems on their own.
Kathi's work ensured that two parks remained financially sound and compliant with federal policy during a critical time. Her willingness to take on a park’s budget oversight on top of her own full workload kept that park's operations running smoothly. Beyond the numbers, Kathi's steady mentorship contributed to building the next generation of NPS administrative leaders. This helped ensure the bureau's institutional knowledge and financial stewardship endure well beyond any single budget cycle.
Administration Team of the Year
This award honors teams who consistently deliver exceptional service, exceeding customer expectations. It celebrates outstanding communication, problem solving, and responsiveness, ensuring a positive customer experience.
AFS5 Transition Team Led by Ashley Baggett
Ashley Baggett - Financial Management Analyst, Washington Support Office
Charles Sunil - Information Technology Specialist, U.S. Department of the Interior
Jason Mortensen - Branch Chief for Mountain Region Endpoint Technical Support, U.S. Department of the Interior
Kenneth Handwerger - Section Chief for NPS IT Mission Services, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mason Roberts - Chief, NPS FBMS Property, Washington Support Office
Qing Fu - Information Management Specialist, Washington Support Office
Rajesh Alex - Information Technology Specialist, U.S. Department of the Interior
Rebecca Bizier - Accounting Operations Center Deputy Manager, NPS FBMS Program Manager, Washington Support Office
Alexandra Genao - Financial Specialist, Washington Support Office
Donna Brown - Budget Analyst, Northeast Region
Monica Brown - Budget Officer, National Capital Region
Nancy Pace - Budget Analyst, Washington Support Office
Nikki Demers - AKR Recreation Fee Manager, PMIS Administrator & SCC Coordinator, Alaska Region
Melinda Martinez - NPS IMR Financial Manager, Intermountain Region
Kristi Brown - Acting Comptroller, Midwest Region
Debbie England - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
Heather O’Grady - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
Jennifer Evans - Budget Analyst, Southeast Region
Ellen Bullock - Program Analyst, Washington Support Office
Michelle Blockberger - Budget Analyst, Washington Support Office
Karyn Littrell - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
Charles Sunil - Information Technology Specialist, U.S. Department of the Interior
Jason Mortensen - Branch Chief for Mountain Region Endpoint Technical Support, U.S. Department of the Interior
Kenneth Handwerger - Section Chief for NPS IT Mission Services, U.S. Department of the Interior
Mason Roberts - Chief, NPS FBMS Property, Washington Support Office
Qing Fu - Information Management Specialist, Washington Support Office
Rajesh Alex - Information Technology Specialist, U.S. Department of the Interior
Rebecca Bizier - Accounting Operations Center Deputy Manager, NPS FBMS Program Manager, Washington Support Office
Alexandra Genao - Financial Specialist, Washington Support Office
Donna Brown - Budget Analyst, Northeast Region
Monica Brown - Budget Officer, National Capital Region
Nancy Pace - Budget Analyst, Washington Support Office
Nikki Demers - AKR Recreation Fee Manager, PMIS Administrator & SCC Coordinator, Alaska Region
Melinda Martinez - NPS IMR Financial Manager, Intermountain Region
Kristi Brown - Acting Comptroller, Midwest Region
Debbie England - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
Heather O’Grady - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
Jennifer Evans - Budget Analyst, Southeast Region
Ellen Bullock - Program Analyst, Washington Support Office
Michelle Blockberger - Budget Analyst, Washington Support Office
Karyn Littrell - Budget Analyst, Midwest Region
The Administrative Financial System Team showed leadership in transitioning the National Park Service to an updated version of the software system used for budget formulation across the agency. Working with limited resources, team members defined and fleshed out requirements with the software provider. They did this while troubleshooting to keep the legacy system running until the updated system was ready.
When rollout delays pushed the transition into fiscal year 2026, the team adapted and kept moving forward. Team members offered unending support to budget staff, including frequently answering questions in off hours.
The Administrative Financial System is essential for budget management at the field level. It enables staff throughout the National Park Service to formulate current and future budgets and run projections that keep budgets on track. By ensuring uninterrupted access to this system during a challenging software transition, the team protected the financial operations of parks across the country.
When rollout delays pushed the transition into fiscal year 2026, the team adapted and kept moving forward. Team members offered unending support to budget staff, including frequently answering questions in off hours.
The Administrative Financial System is essential for budget management at the field level. It enables staff throughout the National Park Service to formulate current and future budgets and run projections that keep budgets on track. By ensuring uninterrupted access to this system during a challenging software transition, the team protected the financial operations of parks across the country.