Chiara A. Palazzolo, Project Manager at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Chiara Palazzolo in her office

What does your job involve? I serve as a contracting officer representative managing a range of planning, design and construction of various capital improvement and rehabilitation projects. Some of my core responsibilities are to:

• Assure all aspects of projects are addressed

• Meet industry standards as they relate to quality

• Comply with all federal regulations and documentation

• Collaborate with various groups including the US Federal Highway Administration to move facility and road projects forward

Some examples of a few projects that I’ve worked on include:

• Building 27 miles of National Scenic Byway road construction in California

• Rehabilitating more than 30 campground projects including water/waste water/ and utilities

• Worked on the stabilization project for the historic Alpine Tunnel a 1,772 ft narrow gauge railroad tunnel located east of Pitkin, Colorado.

How did you get into the engineering industry? In my formative years, I was in awe of nature and knew I wanted to work in conserving resources so that all people could benefit and appreciate the natural landscapes. I became a landscape architect and was able to put my dreams into action by working on some of the most beautiful places in the world.

What do you think is the best thing about a career in engineering? I really enjoy being part of creating changes that improve how society uses transportation to recreate. I also value living the National Park Service’s mission “preserving unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”

What are you most proud of? I really enjoyed working on the reconstruction of Island Lake Campground, located at an elevation of 10,000 feet on Colorado's Grand Mesa. The project used universal design principles and became one of the most highly used accessible campgrounds on the Colorado Western Slope.

Another project that stands out is actually a deconstruction project. It removed 100 dilapidated structures and restored the landscapes. It used sustainable practices that led to the project recycling, reusing, and salvaging more than 70% of its waste and removing lead waste and asbestos from the environment.

What are the career benefits of working for the National Park Service? There are so many. I have lived next to some of the most beautiful places on earth. My backyard for nine years were the Maroon Bells and Mount Sneffles in Colorado, as well as Yellowstone in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. I appreciate that I have been able to work on diverse and interesting projects from start to finish. I work with a group of professionals who consider themselves stewards of the natural environment and while that at times that makes for creating challenges, it also makes for better outcomes. A career in the park service can open a lot of doors to different experiences.

What would your advice be to someone interested in an engineering role at the National Park Service? The competition is fierce. Seek out college internships, cooperative positions, join the Peace Corps, or seek out volunteer opportunities while you are still a student. The early experience and networking potential will make landing a career more likely. Military experience is also a position to transition from which may offer financial benefits.

Be sure to take some environmental courses especially in hydrology, soils, and law (Environmental Policy/Secretary of Interior Standards) to better improve your desirability. Engineering opportunities at NPS include many different specialties: Electrical, civil, environmental, architectural, mechanical, structural, safety, fire protection, bioengineering and industrial. Even landscape architects are part of the engineering position series. These positions call for organized, structured creativity, and the ability to work in teams or independently.

Working for the Park is a privilege because you are tasked with the responsibility of taking care of the “People’s Parks”. It is an awesome responsibility and very rewarding. If you possess engineering skills and abilities and are driven by a desire to protect and improve access to the iconic and interconnected landscapes of the National Park, an engineering career will put those skills to great use.