News Release

Eric Brunnemann Selected as Superintendent of Padre Island National Seashore

NPS Photo

News Release Date: March 25, 2020

Contact: Charles Lassiter, 361-949-8068

National Park Service Regional Director Mike Reynolds announced today that beginning April 26, 2020, Eric Brunnemann will serve as superintendent of Padre Island National Seashore in Texas. Brunnemann, who has more than 31 years of experience with the National Park Service, will also supervise the superintendent of Palo Alto National Battlefield in his new role.

“Eric has been serving as the acting superintendent of Padre Island National Seashore and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park since October 2019 and has shown exemplary leadership and dedication to both parks and their surrounding communities,” said Reynolds. “Throughout his career, Eric has overseen many successful resource management projects and educational outreach programs that have provided great value to the National Park Service.”

“I have a long family history in Texas that dates back to the 1860s and moving back to south Texas truly feels like coming home,” said Brunnemann. “I’m looking forward to working with the staff, local communities, and many partners to forge lasting relationships that will help preserve our resources and enhance the visitor experience in these south Texas parks.”

Brunnemann began his National Park Service career as a seasonal museum technician at Fort Davis National Historic Site. He then continued his career as a Southwestern archaeologist at Petroglyph National Monument in New Mexico and with the Southeast Utah Group in Moab. Brunnemann also served as superintendent of Badlands National Park in South Dakota, Pinnacles National Monument in California, War in the Pacific National Historical Park in Guam, American Memorial Park in the Northern Mariana Islands, and most recently served as superintendent of Guadalupe Mountains National Park in West Texas since 2015.

After 31 years of living away from south Texas, Brunnemann is looking forward to moving his son and daughter, who have traveled the world with him, back to the area where he grew up.