By Michael Byrd
April 20, 2015
Kym Hall has been selected as the superintendent for Colonial National Historical Park. She replaces former Superintendent Dan Smith, who retired at the end of 2014.
"We're very excited about the tremendous experience and leadership skills that Kym brings to Colonial National Historical Park. Her extensive background and passion for working collaboratively will serve her well as she energizes and expands the park's partnerships," said Regional Director Mike Caldwell. "At Glacier, she successfully tackled a wide range of issues; from highway and road operations, to concessions and partner management. As acting superintendent, she also spent considerable time working with park staff, leading planning efforts, and building teamwork and organizational effectiveness.”
Since 2011, Hall has served as the deputy superintendent of Glacier National Park in Montana. More recently, she served eight months as the acting superintendent of Glacier National Park and four months as the acting superintendent of parks in the Outer Banks Group in North Carolina.
"I am honored to have been selected to serve as the superintendent. Many years ago I visited the park on a family vacation and knew that I wanted to work here one day," said Hall. "I'm thrilled at the opportunity to work with the park staff, our neighbors, partners, and stakeholders as we launch into the centennial of the National Park Service. I believe that we need to empower, challenge and encourage employees to accomplish great things. Once we do that, we can engage, collaborate and serve the public in exciting new ways."
Hall is a 28-year veteran of the NPS and began her career at Olympic National Park in Washington. She then took a position at the NPS headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she worked on various regulations for the agency. Her accomplishments included the development of the first winter use regulations at Yellowstone National Park, personal watercraft regulations, and off-road vehicle regulations in many park units. While serving in the NPS Washington Office, Hall was promoted to the position of special assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks where she represented the NPS on issues including land use, concessions contracts, weapons in parks, and other high-profile topics.
Hall also served as the superintendent of Southeast Arizona Group parks (Chiricahua National Monument, Coronado National Memorial, and Fort Bowie National Historic Site), and acting superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Hall graduated from the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows program, in 2014. She is the proud mother of three sons -- Jacob, 18; Sean, 13; and Kyle, 6.
