New chief ranger picked for Glacier Park

Paul Austin has been selected as chief ranger for Glacier National Park.

Austin, currently the chief ranger at Saguaro National Park in Arizona will begin his new Glacier duties in mid-December.

As chief ranger, Austin will be a member of the park’s leadership team and have management responsibility for the visitor and resource protection division.  He will oversee the law enforcement, fees, special uses, fire, trails, backcountry, stock and dispatch programs.  

Austin worked during the summer of 1995 in the Belly River area of Glacier National Park as a Student Conservation Association intern. He was a backcountry ranger stationed at St. Mary in 1997.   

He continued to work summers at Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite national parks while teaching middle school science during the school year.

He was appointed to a permanent position in Yosemite and continued his career at Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks.  

Austin grew up outside Seattle. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemistry, and attended Western Washington University earning a master’s degree in education.   

His connection to Glacier National Park also involves his mother and grandfather who both worked at Many Glacier Hotel.  

Austin and his wife have two young sons, ages 9 and 6. They are looking forward to the many outdoor activities throughout the seasons in Northwest Montana, including camping, mountain biking, skiing and climbing. Both he and his wife participate in triathlons and Ironman competitions.