News Release

Stan Austin Named as Director of National Park Service’s South Atlantic-Gulf Region

Stan Austin

NPS Photo

News Release Date: May 14, 2020

Contact: [e-mail]

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service (NPS) today announced the appointment of Stan Austin as regional director of the South Atlantic-Gulf, America's most visited NPS region. He will return to the Atlanta-based operation in late June after having served two years as regional director of the NPS Lower Colorado Basin, Columbia-Pacific Northwest, California-Great Basin and Pacific Islands region.

“Stan is an exceptional leader whose influence and work products have benefited every operation that he has managed across the National Park Service,” said NPS Deputy Director, Exercising the Authority of the Director, David Vela. “We are fortunate to have him at the helm of the South Atlantic-Gulf region again, applying sound leadership and judgment to engage our workforce, partners and visitors.”

“I'm remigrating to Region 2 after a wonderful experience working with the incredible leadership team, parks, and programs in Regions 8, 9, 10 and 12, known for their diversity, collaboration, and innovation. It feels like I'm coming full circle in my career," Austin said. “I look forward to continuing my work helping advance the National Park Service’s mission with the dedicated staff, energetic partners, and engaged communities who help care for the amazing parks and programs in the South Atlantic – Gulf region of our nation.”

In his new role, Austin will oversee an expanded footprint of 73 parks spanning 4 million acres and multiple programs in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The region employees 2700 people and hosts 43,000 volunteers and nearly 69 million visitors who contribute more than $6 billion to local economies annually.

Austin began his federal career with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) where he served in a variety of management positions for more than ten years, including time working as a Division Chief in the Water Program Office. As a Mike Mansfield Fellow with EPA, Austin spent two years in Tokyo, Japan working with the Japan Ministries of Construction and Environment. He also served on several hurricane relief efforts including the Hurricane Mitch federal response team in Nicaragua, providing hurricane relief assistance. 

Austin began his National Park Service career at Gateway National Recreation Area as an interpretive park ranger, resource management specialist, and then law enforcement ranger. He later served as deputy superintendent of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, superintendent of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah/Arizona, acting deputy superintendent at Yosemite National Park in California, superintendent at Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio, and regional director for the Southeast (current South Atlantic-Gulf) Region. 

During his time on the west coast -- where he began serving as regional director in 2018 -- Stan managed many complex and sensitive issues, including devastating California wildfires and eruption recovery at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and important commemorations including National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and the 75th anniversary of the Port Chicago disaster. While there, Austin was also appointed by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior as a Field Special Assistant for the California-Great Basin Region (Region 10). A New Jersey native, Austin earned a bachelor of science in environmental sciences with a focus on biology from Rutgers University. 

An announcement regarding leadership of the NPS Lower Colorado Basin, Columbia-Pacific Northwest, California-Great Basin and Pacific Islands region will be made once a selection has been made.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at www.nps.gov, on Facebook www.facebook.comlnationalparkservice , Twitter www.twitter.comlnatlparkservice, and YouTube www.voutube.com/nationalparkservice.