News Release

Mark Foust Selected as Superintendent of Buffalo National River

Mark Foust was announced as new superintendent of Buffalo National River.

NPS photo

News Release Date: May 14, 2018

Contact: Alexandra Picavet, Midwest Region Chief of Communications, 402-661-1840

Omaha — National Park Service (NPS) Midwest Regional Director Cam Sholly announced the selection of Mark Foust as superintendent of Buffalo National River in Arkansas. Foust is currently the Superintendent of Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado. He assumes his new role late July.
 
“I am pleased to announce Mark as the superintendent of Buffalo National River,” said Cam Sholly. “Mark has a proven record of managing large operations, complex issues, and working with communities.  His strong leadership and collaborative style will serve Buffalo River well.”
 
“I am honored and thrilled to be trusted with the responsibility of caring for this amazing river— America’s first National River,” Foust said. “Buffalo National River is a fantastic park, rich in the culture and history of the Ozarks. I look forward to building strong and lasting relationships with the staff, communities, neighbors, and stakeholders.”
 
For the last four years, foust has been superintendent of Dinosaur National Monument, which includes two incredible rivers. Prior to his assignment at Dinosaur, he served as the chief ranger at Glacier National Park in Montana for eight years. Foust has served in numerous supervisory and ranger positions and as chief ranger at Chickasaw National Recreation Area in Oklahoma, Oklahoma City National Memorial, and Padre Island National Seashore during his 29-year career. He is an incident commander for the National Park Service’s Type II all-risk incident management teams working on major incidents and events like hurricanes, floods, and Presidential Inaugurations.
 
A third-generation National Park Service employee, Foust has lived all over the country. His father, Ray Foust, retired from the NPS as the Superintendent of Whiskeytown-Shasta-Trinity National Recreation Area, CA, and his grandfather was an archeologist at Mesa Verde National Park, CO.
 
Foust graduated from the University of California, Davis in 1989 with a B.S. in Resource Science. He enjoys competing in triathlons, rafting, kayaking, running, hiking, hunting, and biking (mountain and road). He and his wife, Lori, are looking forward to relocating to the area and enjoying the river and trails of Buffalo National River and the surrounding area.