Q How
did you get started with the park service?
A I went the seasonal route. I started working at Yellowstone in 1970. I had been in the Marines and I think that helped me get a job in protection. I worked in Yellowstone for four seasons, Everglades for one, Shenadoah for three, Big Cypress for one and then I got on permanently. Being a seasonal is often some of your fondest memories. Things are simpler. You are in the field, you are learning, you are excited. You dont have all the responsibilities.
QHow did you work your way up to where you are now?
A I started as a GS4 in Yellowstone. When I became permanent at Big Cypress, I continued with protection but also did a lot of fire fighting and resource management. In the early 80's, things were different with rangers doing a lot of everything.
I eventually went back to Shenadoah as a permanent backcountry ranger. I was promoted to backcountry supervisor and then to the subdistrict ranger position. A few years later, I was promoted to a District Ranger at Shenadoah. Then I applied to a vacant position here at Acadia and now I am East District Ranger here.
