News Release

Mathieu Selected as Administrative Officer for the Powder River Group

News Release Date: October 13, 2020

Contact: Christy Fleming, 307-548-5402

Lovell, WY – Superintendent Mike Tranel announced the selection of Leonard “Len” Mathieu as Administrative Officer for the Powder River Group of parks, which includes Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Devils Tower National Monument, and Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Len has 23 years of experience serving in support positions, 17 years in HR and the last 6 years as an administrative officer. 

"We have reorganized our administrative services so that one team will serve all four parks in the Powder River Group. We believe Len is the right person to lead this new team as they provide first rate customer service to the parks and continue to operate more efficiently." Superintendent Tranel commented.

Len grew up in Northern Michigan in a town of around 1,500, so the smaller communities of Montana and Wyoming feel like home. He spent most of the 1970s and 1980s hunting, fishing, and sailing the Great Lakes, participating with his boy scout troop, and enjoying several outdoor sports. Len spent 20 years serving in the United States Air Force and finished his military career at the rank of Major. He has also served as an Administrative Officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Denton, Texas, and most recently, for the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) in Phoenix, Arizona.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science from Northern Michigan University, along with a Master’s Degree in Business Organizational Management from the University of La Verne.  

When Len was asked about this new opportunity, he replied: “I am very excited and grateful to be in this position because of the new experiences and challenges I will encounter in joining the National Park Service and the Powder River Group.  I look forward to meeting and working with my new teammates, and I will do my part to help create a world-class customer experience at all our sites.  Finally, as a very wise man from Little Bighorn said to me, ‘let the adventures begin.’  I am ready for the adventure!”

Len is married to the former Darlene Smith of Lapeer, Michigan, and they have five adult children. Len will be based out of the north district of Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area but will serve all four parks within the group. We are excited for him to come on board with us in early December.