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Thursday, May 3, 2012

National Mall ready to take on new look

National Park Service names Robert Vogel as new superintendent of DC’s National Mall

National Park Service names Robert Vogel as new superintendent of DC’s National Mall

By National Park Service

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

National Park Service

National Park Service (NPS) National Capital Region (NCR) Regional Director Steve Whitesell announces the selection of 30-year NPS employee Robert (“Bob”) Vogel to become the new Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks.  Vogel begins his new duties on Wednesday, July 27th. “I am delighted and thrilled to announce Bob Vogel’s appointment as Superintendent of the National Mall & Memorial Parks,” said Whitesell. “Bob’s experience and determination to succeed will not only assist the National Park Service, but will help to best serve the American public as well.”

“I am extremely honored to be selected to serve as Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, one of America’s most iconic and internationally-recognized treasures,” said Vogel.  “Millions of people visit this cherished place to learn about our democracy and national values.  The sites on the National Mall showcase our country’s rich history and embody our Nation’s proud heritage. This expansive park area also serves as America’s ‘front yard,’ and I welcome the chance to tackle the unique challenges of managing such a prominent national park, and look forward to working with a dedicated team of park employees and devoted partners to protect the resources of the National Mall and Memorial Parks so that all Americans and international visitors will have the best
experience possible. I especially look forward to working with the Trust for the National Mall as our primary partner in accomplishing the National Mall Plan.”

“The Trust for the National Mall congratulates incoming National Mall and Memorial Parks Superintendent Bob Vogel on his promotion,” said Caroline Cunningham, President of the Trust for the National Mall. “We look forward to working closely with Mr. Vogel on the restoration and improvement of America’s favorite national park.”

Prior to starting his new position, Vogel served for the past four years as the Deputy Superintendent of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.  In that role, Vogel oversaw all park operations and directly supervised the park’s division chiefs and their respective programs, ultimately being responsible for a 150-person permanent staff, 250 seasonal employees and about 125 volunteers. Vogel had primary oversight of the park’s $13-million budget.

Vogel also oversaw and directed Grand Teton’s management of the park’s American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) projects and large-scale construction projects to improve park facilities and infrastructure.

Vogel supervised a broad scope of park operations and responsibilities, including an extensive system of water, sewer and electrical utilities, five major housing areas, seven campgrounds, three entrance stations, two main visitor centers and three (summer) auxiliary visitor centers, 26 authorized concession contracts and diverse concessions operations grossing over $40 million per year, 160 miles of paved roads, 250 miles of trails, search and rescue services, law enforcement operations, structural and wildland fire response, emergency medical services, emergency/disaster response programs and a commercial jet airport.

In the past two years, Vogel has worked closely with the Jackson Hole Airport Board to complete a final environmental impact statement (EIS) to extend the Jackson Hole Airport’s use agreement with the NPS.  Vogel has also worked closely with the Governor’s Office to identify appropriate options and advance the process for completion of an equitable-value exchange of Wyoming state lands located within Grand Teton National Park.

In his new role in Washington, Vogel will oversee a $31-million budget, a staff of over 300, and visitation near 25 million visitors annually.  Vogel will assume management and day-to-day operations of this nation’s icons, including the Washington Monument and the Lincoln, Jefferson, World War II, Vietnam Veterans, Korean War and Franklin Delano Roosevelt memorials as well as all of East Potomac Park and Hains Point and the entire length of the National Mall from 1st Street west to the Potomac River. As Superintendent, Vogel will also oversee management of a number of downtown NPS properties including Farragut, McPherson and Franklin Squares, and Washington, Dupont, Thomas and Logan Circles.

Vogel began his 30-year career with the NPS as a seasonal park interpreter. Before beginning work at Grand Teton in May 2007, Vogel served as superintendent at Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina, as superintendent at Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in North Carolina, as chief of visitor services at Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site and Johnstown Flood National Memorial in Pennsylvania and at Fort Frederica National Monument in Georgia, and as assistant chief of interpretation at Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. During his tenure at Cape Lookout, Vogel completed a detail assignment as a Jones Leadership Fellow for the National Park Service’s Washington Office, in the position of Associate to the Deputy Director for Operations.

Vogel is a native of Cape Girardeau, MO, and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a B.S. degree in Natural Resource Management. Vogel’s wife, Janice, serves as a GIS Analyst for the National Park Service, and the Vogel’s daughter, Sara, is a senior at Jackson Hole High School in Jackson, WY.