Director's Awards for Natural and Cultural Resources

The Cultural and Natural Resource Awards Programs recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals in understanding, protecting, and managing park resources. Awardees are selected annually in a spring call for nominations and honored bi-annually.

Please direct questions on the Director’s Award for Natural and Cultural Resources to the appropriate contact:

Cultural Resources: Sam Tamburro
Natural Resources: Sarah Sparhawk

Natural Resource Management

This award recognizes an employee for their significant contribution to natural resource management in parks, particularly a contribution that resulted in the adoption of a new or improved resource management practice and/or approach by the National Park Service.

2022: Sarah Dewey, Wildlife Biologist, Grand Teton National Park and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway
2021: Kristy Boscheinen, Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, for her work on the Watergate Wetland Restoration project.
2020: Chris Geremia, Wildlife Biologist, Yellowstone National Park, for his work restoring wild bison in the Yellowstone area and on Tribal lands.
2019: Colleen Allen, Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, for her work managing the invasive mussels containment program.
2018: Jennifer Hooke, Botanist, Crater Lake National Park, for her leadership in transforming the botanical program into a topnotch program focused on science, management, and restoration in just six years.
2017: Kerry A. Gunther, Wildlife Biologist, Yellowstone National Park, for his work with Yellowstone grizzly bears that eventually resulted in their removal from protection by the Endangered Species Act.
2016: Mary Kay Watry, Conservation Biologist, Rocky Mountain National Park, for her work on many important issues including black bear management and greenback cutthroat trout restoration.
2015: Greg Schroeder, Chief of Resource Management, Wind Cave National Park, for his leadership in establishing conservation bison herds to ensure their presence across North America.

Natural Resource Research

This award recognizes a federal employee or non-federal researcher for their outstanding contributions to natural resource research benefiting national parks.

2022: Rebecca Weissinger, Ecologist, Northern Colorado Plateau Inventory & Monitoring Network
2021: Jon O’Donnell, Aquatic Ecologist, Arctic Inventory and Monitoring Network, for his contribution of five, coauthored peer reviewed publications, three technical reports, eight scientific presentations, and co-led six active research grants in 2021.
2020: Andrew Landsman, Natural Resources and Compliance Program Manager, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park, for his role in developing and using science results to drive and inform resource management at the park.
2019: David Thoma, Ecologist, Northern Colorado Plateau and Greater Yellowstone Networks, for his efforts to apply water balance models for understanding the impacts of drought and the timing of meteorological events on natural resource conditions.
2018: Joshua H. Schmidt, Biometrician, Central Alaska I&M Network fo,r developing innovative analytical approaches for extracting more information from wildlife surveys and project data, which he then applied to the management needs of species across 12 parks in Alaska.
2017: Sherman “Shan” L. Burson III, Acoustic Ecologist, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, for his dedication to understanding the effects of motorized transportation in national parks.
2016: Darcy Hu, Senior Science Adviser, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, for her contributions to the advancement of science and stewardship in the Pacific West Region.
2015: Dan Duriscoe, Physical Scientist, Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division, for creating innovative sky quality measurement tools.

Professional Excellence in Natural Resource Stewardship

This award recognizes an individual who significantly contributes to resource management successes by employing a high degree of technical excellence in a narrowly focused, professional role.

2022: Dr. Patricia (Patti) J. Happe, Wildlife Biologist, Olympic National Park
2021: Christy Brigham, Ph.D., Chief of Resources Management and Science, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park, for her work to protect natural resources during the Castle and KNP Complex fires.
2020: Catherine Anna Toline, Regional Marine Scientist, Interior Regions 1,2, & 4, for her work in four US Virgin Islands parks to respond to the devastating effects to natural resources following back-to-back category 5 hurricanes.
2019: Elaine Leslie, Chief of the Biological Resources Division, Natural Resource Stewardship & Science Directorate, for her years of dedication leading efforts to control invasive species, raise awareness of biodiversity in national parks, support pollinator conservation, and advance marine mammal partnerships.
2018: Andy Hubbard, Program Manager, Sonoran Desert Network, for his instrumental role in establishing the Desert Research Learning Center and for 18 years of leadership in natural resource stewardship for many parks.
2017: Mark J. Biel, Natural Resources Program Manager, Glacier National Park, for developing a wildlife shepherding program with the help of his dog, Gracie, to keep park visitors and wildlife a safe distance apart.
2016: Patrick Malone, Assistant Regional Director, Natural Resources, Intermountain Regional Office, for his efforts to integrate natural resource planning, engage youth through programs like Geoscientists in the Parks, protect dark skies, and improve training opportunities for natural resource staff.
2015: Curtis E. Deuser. Supervisory Ecologist, Lake Mead Exotic Plant Management Team, for being a trailblazer in the treatment of invasive plants, both inside and outside national parks.

Excellence in Natural Resource Stewardship Through Maintenance

This award recognizes an employee for outstanding contributions in natural resource management by a Facilities Management employee.

2022: John Torrence, Maintenance Worker, Congaree National Park
2021: Matthew Snider, Crew Leader, Grand Canyon National Park, for his work maintaining the more than 28 composting toilet facilities dispersed throughout the park for visitor use.
2020: Garey Bickham, Equipment Operator, Gulf Islands National Seashore, for his work to help protect imperiled shorebirds and their nests.
2019: Nick Huck, Trails Maintenance Supervisor, Saguaro National Park, for leading and managing a large workforce of diverse youth in trails operations and maintenance activities that support all park programs conducting work/research in remote areas, including Resources and Wildland Fire programs.
2018: Howard Gourley, Maintenance Supervisor and Facility Operations Specialist, Petrified Forest National Park, for developing and implementing a complex plan to improve the museum service laboratory, resulting in a safer working space for researchers, a better learning environment for interns, and increased space to work on multiple projects.
2017: Ronald H. Goff, Electrician, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, for being a champion of natural dark.
2016: Michael Pieper, Project Manager, Yosemite National Park, for serving as construction supervisor for the restoration of the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias.
2015: Dwayne Moates, Facilities Manager, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, for his 16-year commitment to prioritizing sustainable water and energy use.

Natural Resource Management in a Small Park

This award rewards achievements in natural resource management in small parks.

2022: Carolyn (Elaine) Furbish, Biologist, Klondike Goldrush National Historical Park
2021: Lindsey Donaldson, Chief of Resources Management, Catoctin Mountain Park, for her long-term management of the park’s white-tailed deer population to support regrowth of tree species comprising the forest canopy.
2020: Kristen Ewen, Biological Science Technician, National Park Units on the island of St. Croix: Christiansted National Historic Site, Salt River National Historical Park & Ecological Preserve, and Buck Island Reef National Monument, for her work on several projects, including the Buck Island Sea Turtle Program and the Coastal Studies Outpost building restoration, that help protect park resources.
2019: Kristen Hase, Natural Resource Program Manager, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, for leading a multi-agency effort to develop and implement plans to recover the federally endangered Topeka shiner.
2018: Courtney James, Biologist, Manassas National Battlefield Park, for her work on multiple projects to promote pollinators, restore and improve grassland habitat, and assess the quality of habitat for desired species through strategic engagement with agency colleagues and partners.
2017: Rolando L. Garza, Archeologist, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, for his commitment to restore the core battleground area to the broad open prairie setting similar to the 1846 landscape.
2016: Karl Zimmermann, Operations Manager, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site, for developing a natural resources management plan for a new unit of the National Park Service.
2015: Marc Albert, Stewardship Program Director, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, for restoring the natural and cultural landscapes of Grape and Thompson Islands.

Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship

This award recognizes a Superintendent for their outstanding contributions, creative leadership, and direction and support in natural resource management.

2022: Dave Hallac, Superintendent, Cape Hatteras National Seashore
2021: Steve Mietz, Superintendent, Redwoods National and State Park, for his work implementing landscape scale watershed conservation with park partners and local tribes.
2020: Scott Stonum, Superintendent, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, for his leadership in balancing park resource protection, safe visitation, and new border infrastructure construction.
2019: Michael Pflaum, Superintendent, Badlands National Park, for supporting research and management of bighorn sheep, blacktailed prairie dogs, the black-footed ferret, as well as providing support for noxious weed management activities, which increase the health of the bison range.
2018: Philip N. Hooge, Superintendent, Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve, for his work with cruise ship companies to improve resource stewardship in the park and for his support to expand the Inventory & Monitoring program to include the "Lost Coast," which benefited several southeast Alaska parks.
2017: Lizette Richardson, Superintendent, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, for her vision in protecting water as a key resource.
2016: Hugh J. Hawthorne, Superintendent, Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, for his support of critical restoration and erosion controls following the Miller Fire of 2011.
2015: Michael M. Ward, Superintendent, Voyageurs National Park, for his efforts to improve air quality in the region.

Appleman-Judd-Lewis Awards

The Appleman-Judd-Lewis Awards were established in 1970 to recognize National Park Service employees who excel in the field of cultural resource stewardship and management. The awards are named for three distinguished former employees: historian Roy E. Appleman, historical architect Henry A. Judd, and curator Ralph H. Lewis.

Three awards recognize expertise and outstanding contributions to cultural resource stewardship and management by full-time employees of the National Park Service. The three awards were created to encourage creativity in cultural resource stewardship and management practices and projects, particularly those that may serve as examples or models for programs across the service. They include one for a park superintendent, one for a facility maintenance specialist, and one for a cultural resource specialist.

Excellence in Cultural Resource Stewardship by Superintendents

2022: Tom Leatherman, Superintendent, Pearl Harbor National Memorial
2021: Craig Kenkel, Superintendent, Point Reyes National Seashore, for his leadership in developing a General Agreement for a Government-to-Government Partnership with the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria in the management and stewardship of federal lands within tribal ancestral territories administered by the park.
2020: Lauren H. Blacik, Superintendent, Pipestone National Monument, for her ability to work with multiple partners to address difficult and controversial cultural resource issues at the park.
2019: Terry Brown, Superintendent, Fort Monroe National Monument, for his leadership in the commemoration of 400 years of African American history that ultimately led to racial unity and healing at the park.
2018: Stephen Clark, Superintendent, Flight 93 National Memorial, for his leadership skills that led to the success of the extremely complex and highly sensitive recovery project to return the remaining wreckage of United Airlines Flight 93 to the crash site for interment.
2017: James Woolsey, Superintendent, Springfield Armory National Historic Site and Coltsville National Historical Park, for leading the landscape transformation of Armory Square and overseeing the the transfer of the highly significant gun collection from the US Army to the NPS.
2016: Melissa Cobern, Superintendent, George Washington Memorial Birthplace National Monument and Thomas Stone National Historic Site, for using innovative methods to connect visitors to obscure stories.
2015: Kirsten Talken-Spaulding, Superintendent, Fort Monroe National Monument, for her commitment to community engagement and developing partnerships to benefit the 565-acre national monument.
2014: Tracy Fortmann, Superintendent, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, for leading her staff in expanding the interpretive and educational programs to include the stories of a multi-cultural settlement during the fur trade area, a major military installation in the 19th and 20th century Pacific Northwest, an early settlement in Oregon as the terminus of the Oregon Trail, and early 20th century military aviation.
2014: Linda Cook, Superintendent, Weir Farm National Historic Site, for leading a multi-million dollar restoration of the park's primary cultural resources - the historic Weir House, Weir Studio, and Young Studio.

Excellence in Cultural Resource Stewardship Through Maintenance

2022: Joseph Kaiama, Lead Maintenance Worker, Kalaupapa National Historical Park
2021: Christopher Buczko, Environmental Protection Specialist, Midwest Regional Office Planning and Compliance, for his comprehensive and integrated process to broker constructive agreements between many key stakeholders and the State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPO) disciplines related to planning and rehabilitation of the Charles Young Home at Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Historical Site.
2020: Eric Herrera, Facility Manager, Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve, for designing a custom, cost-effective HVAC system to allow the study and protection of internationally significant fossils.
2019: Kiel Rommel, Facility Maintenance Specialist, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, for his enthusiastic assistance to the Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program and training future generations of skilled craftspeople.
2018: Ron Sacchi, Facility Maintenance Specialist, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, for his dedication to the protection of cultural resources in a park with a rich cultural resource legacy and heavy recreation use.
2017: Steve Walasewicz, Facility Manager, Saint Gaudens National Historic Site and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, for the historic preservation of buildings, utilities, roads, trails, and landscapes at both parks.
2016: Joseph "Dan" McCarthy, Gardener Supervisor, Olmsted Center for Landscape Preservation, for advancing the field of cultural landscape preservation, especially in tree care.
2015: Gary Stellpflug, Trails Foreman, Acadia National Park, for his efforts to advance Acadia’s trails program.
2014: Randall Skeirik, Historical Architect, Vanishing Treasures Program, for providing expert technical assistance to dozens of parks throughout the Intermountain and Pacific West Regions.

Excellence in Cultural Resource Management

2022: Rebecca Cole-Will, Resource Management Program Manager, Acadia National Park
2021: Kate Hanson Plass, Archivist, Longfellow House-Washington's Headquarters National Historic Site, for her exceptional contributions to cultural resource stewardship in 2021. Working closely with the site’s Volunteers-in-Parks Program coordinator, Ms. Hanson Plass expanded on the 2020 design of the Virtual Transcriber Program, working with volunteers from across the country to transcribe historic documents, puzzling out 19th century handwriting.
2020: Nelson Siefkin, Burned Area Emergency Response Coordinator, Fire and Aviation Management, for his work over two decades to protect life and safety as well as critical cultural and natural resources in response to wildfires.
2019: Kelly Dick, Cultural Resources Specialist, Rocky Mountain National Park, for creating a safe, professional, and ethical cultural resources managment program in a 415-square mile park with annual visitation of about 4.5 million people.
2018: Jennifer Brynn Bender, Cultural Resources Specialist, Northeast Region Museum Resources Center, for her exceptional leadership in managing the Collection Recovery phase of the United Airlines Project at the Flight 93 National Memorial.
2017: Marilou Ehrler, Chief of Cultural Resources, Gateway National Recreation Area, for Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts as well as developing a design to rehabilitate Barrack Building 23.
2016: Timothy Davis, Historian, Park Historic Structures and Cultural Landscapes, for authoring National Park Roads: A Legacy in the American Landscape, which chronicles the history of national park roads.
2015: Greg Burtchard, Archeologist, Mount Rainier National Park, for his achievements in researching, understanding, protecting, and managing park cultural resources.
2014: Charles F. Lawson, Chief of Cultural Resources, Biscayne National Park, for his demonstrated expert skills, passion, and commitment to every aspect of the vibrant cultural resource program he has built at Biscayne National Park.

Duration:

37 minutes, 25 seconds

Each year the National Park Service recognizes exemplary work in both natural and cultural resource stewardship and management. These awards recognize employees who go above and beyond day-to-day duties to solve problems or create new opportunities or projects with creative thinking and action. In this video we learn about the 2018-2019 recipients.

Conservation At Home