Glacier Park gets new leader
A 21-year veteran of the National Park Service has been named superintendent of Glacier National Park.
Chas Cartwright, currently the superintendent at Shenandoah National Park, will assume his new position in late May. He will replace Mick Holm, who served as superintendent for six years before retiring in January.
Cartwright's selection was announced Tuesday by Intermountain Regional Director Mike Snyder.
"Chas brings a wealth of in-depth knowledge and broad experience to this vital position," Snyder said in a press release. "He is a seasoned superintendent, with a firm commitment to the preservation and protection of park resources, and a keen ability to interact with partners, communities, and Congressional leaders."
Cartwright currently oversees 199,045 acres at Shenandoah National Park.
As superintendent of Glacier, Cartwright will be responsible for the management of 1,013,572 acres, a staff of approximately 151 and an annual operating budget of more than $12 million.
During his 36 years of federal service, Cartwright has held a number of managerial positions including associate to the National Park Service deputy director in Washington, D.C.
Since 1989, he has held superintendent positions at Dinosaur National Monument in Utah and Colorado, Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in North Dakota, and Hovenweep National Monument in Utah and Colorado.
He also held acting superintendent positions at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico and Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah.
Cartwright began his career with the service in 1987 at Canyonlands and Arches national parks and Natural Bridges National Monument as their first archaeologist. Prior to joining the Park Service, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management as an archaeologist and for the U.S. Forest Service as a fire lookout, river ranger and firefighter.
"To say that my wife, Lynda, and I are excited about moving to Glacier country is an understatement," Cartwright said. "I am honored to be selected as superintendent and look forward to getting acquainted with all of the various individuals and groups who care about the park. My focus will be on building relationships. Glacier National Park has an incredibly dedicated staff of permanent and seasonal employees, volunteers, and partners, whom I look forward to working with."
A native of Detroit, Cartwright graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology in 1972. He is an avid athlete who regularly bikes, skis, swims, hikes and kayaks. He is married to Lynda Stocks, a native of Moab, Utah, who has a son and daughter, and they in turn have five children.
Reporter Jim Mann may be reached at 758-4407 or by e-mail at jmann@dailyinterlake.com