The National Park Service has named Frank Lands its regional director for pacific west parks, including Department of the Interior Regions 8 9, 10, and 12.
Lands has more than 20 years of experience in managing natural and cultural resources as well as conservation programs in the U.S. Army.
Lands comes to the post from U.S. Army Fort Bliss, Texas, where he was the deputy garrison commander. He started his new position on January 16.
“Frank comes to the National Park Service with a wealth of leadership experience guiding natural resources, cultural resources, and conservation programs with the U.S. Army as well as infrastructure and emergency services and public safety programs, having overseen operations at one of the most diverse garrisons in our nation’s military,” said NPS Deputy Director Shawn Benge in a release.
“His experience aligns with the NPS mission and will support the needs of one of our largest regions as the NPS continues to address the challenges of unprecedented wildfires, drought, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”
As the director for the region, Lands will provide leadership for more than 65 parks throughout California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and portions of Arizona and Montana and those in the territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Washington, Idaho, most of Oregon, and some of Montana are part of Region 9.
“Throughout my career, I have looked for opportunities to get back to my natural resource roots,” said Lands.
It is an honor to support the mission of the National Park Service and the people who protect and preserve some of our nation’s most significant places. I am excited to work with parks and programs to support the Great American Outdoors Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. I look forward to our work together to reduce maintenance backlog, improve infrastructure, and the opportunity to explore the more than 65 parks throughout the region.”
Lands began his career in the U.S. Army as a forester and environmental specialist in 2000.
In the past decade, he’s held the post of deputy garrison commander at five major army posts and installations.
In the course of his job, he partnered in conjunction with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to sign a memorandum to improve the management of endangered species on behalf of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command Atlantic Region.