Q How
did you get into the park service?
A I started
in 1987 with a forestry background. I applied for seasonal positions and
started as an interpreter for Thomas Edison's Laboratory. Here I was, a
forester, and they stuck me with 23 brick buildings. I stayed as an
historical interpreter for a while, working at the Delaware Water Gap
and in Morristown. I received my pernament status back at Thomas
Edison's Laboratory and stayed there about eight years doing both
interpretation and protection. Then I went to Morristown as chief
resource and visitor protection for about 3,000 acres. After that I came
here as the fire management officer.
Q What are your
main responsibilities here?
A I am responsible
for all the fire management programs including fire preparedness and
fire prevention.
Q Why did you
choose a career in the park service?
A I happened to be
the person who got offered the job first. It seemed like the natural
place for me to go. My father was a government employee. All in all it's
been an interesting experience. Like any job, it has its good points and
its bad points. It has been hard to support a family on the salary for a
long time on the salaries we had. That has improved
