Glacier adds new deputy superintendent, science chief

Two people have taken over top jobs in Glacier National Park.

Kym Hall, a 25-year veteran of the National Park Service, joined Glacier National Park as deputy superintendent in July.

Phil Wilson, a 19-year veteran of the agency, recently became chief of Science and Resource Management.

For the past six years, Hall was superintendent of three small park sites in Southeastern Arizona: Coronado National Memorial, Chiricahua National Monument and Fort Bowie National Historic Site. In Arizona, she faced challenges in dealing with border issues since all three parks were on or near the international border with Mexico. Just prior to her arrival in Montana, she oversaw management of several intense wildland fires.

Hall began her National Park Service career at Olympic National Park in Washington state. After a variety of positions, she took a position at National Park Service headquarters in Washington,D.C., where she worked on regulations across the country.

She was actively involved in the first winter-use regulations at Yellowstone National Park, personal watercraft regulations across the country and off-road vehicle regulations in many park units.

She was promoted to special assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks where she represented the National Park Service on a variety of issues, including land use, concessions contracts, weapons in parks and other high-profile topics.

Hall, her husband, and three sons, ages 14, 10 and 2, are delighted to be in Northwest Montana.

“The Northwest is home for my family and me and we’ve quickly fallen in love with the area,” she said. “It truly is an honor and a privilege to help protect a place as spectacular as Glacier National Park, and to join such a superb leadership team.”

As deputy superintendent, Hall will provide management oversight and guidance for day-to-day park operations.

Since 2009, Wilson has served as the chief of Science and Resource Management at Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River in Texas.

Wilson now fills a similar position at Glacier, overseeing environmental compliance, biological sciences including plant, wildlife and fisheries resources, cultural and curatorial resources, geographical information services and the Crown of the Continent Learning Center.

Wilson began his National Park Service career as a trail crew worker in Grand Canyon National Park. He then worked as a park ranger and archeologist at Mesa Verde National Park and the Grand Canyon.

He was appointed chief of Resource Management for the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in New Mexico and was acting superintendent for Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument in Arizona.

In 2007,Wilson moved to the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in North Carolina as the chief of Resources and Facility Management.

Wilson is a second generation National Park Service employee, growing up in Petrified Forest, Yosemite and Grand Canyon national parks. 

Wilson moves to Glacier National Park with his wife, two daughters, 14 and 7, and a son, 11.

“I am honored to be selected for the position and look forward to working with the park staff, leadership team, partners and local communities in the preservation of this special place,” he said.