Date: January 26, 2017
Contact: Jennette Jurado, 432-477-1109
Cindy Ott-Jones, superintendent of Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River since 2012, retired on January 2, 2017 after 37 years of service with the National Park Service. Ott-Jones graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in Natural Resource Management, before starting her park service career at Jefferson National Expansion Memorial National Historic Site. Other permanent assignments included Lava Beds National Monument, Harry S. Truman National Historic Site, White Sands National Monument, and El Malpais National Monument.
Ott-Jones attended basic land management training at FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center) in 1984 and branched out into visitor protection, attending Criminal Investigation for Land Management training, detailing to the Department of Treasury as a FLETC instructor and becoming Chief Ranger at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Before becoming superintendent at Big Bend National Park, Ott-Jones also served as superintendent of Bents Old Fort National Historic Site, a five month detail as Deputy Superintendent at Grand Teton National Park, and Lake Meredith National Recreation Area/Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument. “It has been an honor and a joy to work for the National Park Service and be a part of this incredible family,” says Cindy Ott-Jones.
Following Ott-Jones, Big Bend National Park welcomes Vidal Davila, who will be acting superintendent until May. Davila is currently superintendent at Wind Cave National Park. Prior to that, Davila was Chief of Science and Resource Management at Big Bend National Park, and so brings with him both a knowledge of directing park management as well as the specific resources of this park. “I congratulate Cindy Ott-Jones in her retirement and thank her for her service to the national parks. I look forward to continuing to preserve this beautiful park and share it with our visiting public.”
