Patrick Pollard Receives 2025 Facility Manager of the Year Award

Patrick Pollard (left) is the recipient of the 2025 Facility Manager of the Year Award

NPS

Patrick Pollard, Facility Manager at Redwoods National and State Parks, has been recognized for his exceptional leadership, innovation, and collaborative spirit, earning top honors for his role in revitalizing the park’s Facility Management (FM) program and delivering outstanding results through partnership-driven projects.

Since joining Redwoods, Patrick has transformed the FM program into one of the most effective and admired in the National Park Service. He inherited a backlog of critical, stalled projects and not only brought them to completion, but simultaneously launched new initiatives aligned with the park’s long-term goals. Under his guidance, morale has soared, productivity has surged, and a "can-do" culture has taken root across the entire FM team.

Patrick is widely respected by staff, partners, and peers for his ability to tackle difficult challenges with creativity, care, and a calm demeanor. His leadership style blends expert-level business acumen with genuine investment in people—earning recognition at the regional and national levels for excellence in program and project management.

One of Patrick’s most celebrated successes is his leadership on the Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery project, where his innovative and pragmatic approach ensured compliance, funding alignment, and forward progress on a complex, multi-stakeholder effort. He also led the successful completion of the long-delayed Davison Road culvert project, which relieved persistent flooding issues impacting neighboring communities.

Beyond projects, Patrick has strengthened and expanded strategic partnerships. He played a key role in integrating NPS FM staff into the Redwoods Rising restoration project for the first time, greatly enhancing interagency coordination. He also negotiated a road maintenance agreement with California State Parks, improving efficiency, safety, and sustainability across jurisdictions.

Perhaps most notably, Patrick established a groundbreaking partnership with the U.S. Air Force’s Innovation Readiness Team, bringing new resources, training opportunities, and long-term collaboration potential to Redwoods. The Air Force chose Redwoods—drawn by the professionalism, organization, and energy Patrick and his team bring to every project.

Patrick’s achievements reflect more than operational excellence—they demonstrate the power of strong leadership rooted in collaboration, empathy, and a drive to serve both people and place.

Please join us in congratulating Patrick Pollard for his incredible contributions to Redwoods National and State Parks, and for setting a new standard of what successful facility management can look like across the National Park Service.