C&O Canal NHP Superintendent

Superintendent Wenschhof

NPS/E. Cowan

Superintendent Ed Wenschhof

Ed Wenschhof assumed the role of superintendent of Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park on Oct. 18, 2026. He joined the C&O Canal in 2013 as chief of visitor and resource protection. In 2024, he became deputy superintendent and has served as the park’s acting superintendent since spring of 2025.

"I am deeply honored to be entrusted with the leadership of the C&O Canal,” Ed said. “This park is a place generations of people have worked to protect, a place where communities come together and a place where millions of visitors can find history, adventure and connection. I am profoundly grateful to our employees, volunteers, partners and supporters, and I look forward to serving alongside them.”

Ed began his National Park Service career in 1984 at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site. He later served at Antietam National Battlefield, where his responsibilities included natural resource management and law enforcement. His experience includes acting superintendent assignments at Antietam National Battlefield, Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Catoctin Mountain Park and Gettysburg National Military Park. Throughout his career, he has worked alongside government agencies, nonprofit organizations, philanthropic partners and communities to protect park resources and serve the public.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education from Penn State University and a master’s degree in geoenvironmental science from Shippensburg University. His career also includes extensive experience responding to weather-related emergencies, wildland fires and other complex incidents, with a focus on public safety, multi-agency coordination and protecting park resources.

 

Timeline of Park Administration

1938 - Federal government purchased the C&O Canal and gave management of the lands to the National Park Service. Administrative control was given to the National Capital Parks in Washington, DC.
1957 - Edwin Dale was appointed the first Superintendent of the "C&O Canal NHP Project" from Seneca to Cumberland. The area from Georgetown to Seneca was administered by National Capital Parks and later George Washington Memorial Parkway.
1961 - Under the American Antiquities Act of 1906, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the C&O Canal lands between Seneca and Cumberland a National Monument. Edwin Dale was named Superintendent of the new national monument.
1966 - W. Dean McClanahan became the second superintendent of the C&O Canal National Monument. Administration of the C&O Canal National Monument was combined with that of Antietam National Battlefield Site in 1967.
1971 - Public Law 91-664, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Development Act, established the C&O Canal National Historical Park.
1972 - William R. Failor took over as the Superintendent of the Antietam-C&O Canal Group. Although the entire canal was now a single unit of the national park system, the lower portion of the park continued under George Washington Memorial Parkway administration.
1974 - William Failor became the first Superintendent for the unified C&O Canal NHP from Georgetown to Cumberland. A new superintendent was appointed for Antietam.
1981 - Richard L. Stanton, former National Park Service liaison with C&O Canal National Historical Park Commission, became Superintendent.
1989 - Thomas O. Hobbs, a West Virginian, succeeded Dick Stanton as Superintendent.
1994 - Doug Faris began his tenure in 1994 and within only two years was quickly confronted with two of the most damaging floods in the park’s history
2004 - Kevin Brandt was appointed Superintendent. Brandt had previously served as Deputy Superintendent beginning in 1996.
2020 - Tina M. Cappetta succeeded as Superintendent. Tina Cappetta (nee Orcutt) was the first Chief of Resources for the C&O Canal from 2002-2004.
2026 - Ed Wenschhof is named as the current Superintendent of the C&O Canal NHP.