Piltzecker selected as Superintendent of Statue of Liberty NM and Ellis Island

Date: November 1, 2013
Contact: Mindi Rambo, 212-668-2208

NEW YORK – John Piltzecker has been selected as the next superintendent of Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island, according to Joshua Laird, commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor. Piltzecker will replace David Luchsinger who will retire Jan. 3.    

"I am very pleased to have John stepping into this important position," said Laird. "John's management style, planning expertise and collaborative leadership skills will help lead the staff as the National Park Service enters its second century."    

"It's a pleasure to return to the New York City metropolitan area, where I began my National Park Service career," said Piltzecker. "I am looking forward to this new opportunity. It is an honor to work with the dedicated staff and nonprofit and business partners who help to share these icons with the public." 

Prior to his current position as Associate Regional Director for Planning, Facilities and Conservation Assistance in the Northeast Region's Philadelphia office, Piltzecker served as superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington, DC, where his portfolio included a number of high profile projects, including the completion of the National Mall Plan, the repair of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial plaza and seawall, the restoration of the District of Columbia War Memorial and the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. 

Previously, Piltzecker served as the acting chief of staff for the NPS in the Washington Office. He was named to that job after serving for four years as program manager for the NPS Office of Partnerships and Philanthropic Stewardship, where he had oversight responsibilities for NPS policies on donations and fundraising and relations with the National Park Foundation and park-based friends groups. 

Piltzecker served for six years as the first superintendent of New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park in Massachusetts, where he is credited with developing a wide range of collaborative partnerships helping to foster visitor understanding and enjoyment and preserving the park's historical resources. During his tenure, he led the effort to rehabilitate the "Old Bank Building" to serve as the park's visitor center and construction planning for the Corson Maritime Education Center. 

 In 1996, Piltzecker was named an NPS Bevinetto Congressional Fellow, moving to Washington, DC to work with the Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee. The fellowship, a key developmental program in the Park Service, is named for the late Tony Bevinetto, a former NPS employee who served on that committee's staff in the 1970s and '80s. 

Piltzecker also served as the acting deputy superintendent at Fire Island National Seashore in New York and held field positions at Boston National Historical Park, Weir Farm National Historic Site, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, and Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site in Manhattan.  

 About Statue of Liberty National Monument and Ellis Island:
Statue of Liberty -- Located on a 12-acre island in New York Harbor, the Statue, Liberty Enlightening the World, was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States and is a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886, designated as a National Monument in 1924 and restored for her centennial on July 4, 1986.  www.nps.gov/stli.
Ellis Island -- Opened on January 1, 1892, Ellis Island became the nation's premier federal immigration station. In operation until 1954, more than 12 million immigrants were processed at the station. The main building was restored after 30 years of abandonment and opened as a museum on September 10, 1990. It has been estimated that more than 40 percent of America's population today can trace their ancestry through Ellis Island. www.nps.gov/elis

About the National Parks of New York Harbor: The National Parks of New York Harbor helps coordinate the 10 national parks found in New York City and northern New Jersey. These parks offer year-round public programs, curriculum-based education, recreational opportunities, natural habitats, historic buildings and museum collections. www.nps.gov/npnh

About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 401 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. www.nps.gov .