National Park Service Announces Dr. Kevin Griess as Superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks

Date: November 18, 2024
Contact: [email protected]

WASHINGTON - The National Park Service has named Dr. Kevin Griess to serve as superintendent of National Mall and Memorial Parks. He will oversee management of the Mall's iconic monuments and memorials and care for treasured neighborhood green space with a budget of approximately $38 million and alongside a staff of more than 200 employees and 3,000 volunteers. Griess begins his assignment in early December, succeeding Jeff Reinbold, who is leaving to become CEO of the National Park Foundation.

"Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the NPS team with a deep background in organizational operations, partnerships, infrastructure, law-enforcement and emergency management. Combined with his service to the nation as a veteran and deep personal connection to the National Mall's iconic monuments and memorials, he is the right fit to lead this prestigious park," NPS Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands said.

Griess brings 25 years of public sector experience with a focus on fiscal management, organizational leadership and organizational transitions. Since 2021, Griess has served as deputy to the garrison commander at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, where he leads and manages a diverse and talented team of over 2,300 federal employees and 2,000 contractors and supports a community population of over 130,000. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational leadership and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. He is also a graduate of the Department of the Interior's Senior Executive Service Development Program.

"The National Mall and its memorials are not only symbols of our nation's history but also sites of reflection, unity, and hope," Griess said. "I am honored and excited to take on this new role and look forward to working with the dedicated National Park Service team to preserve and enhance this sacred space for generations to come."

Following a successful career in military law enforcement in the U.S. Air Force, Griess began his Department of the Army civilian career as an Army Civilian Professional Installation Manager in 2003 at United States Army Garrison Humphreys in South Korea and has since had successive assignments and promotions across the United States and in Germany. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a strong commitment to the service of the U.S. military and public lands.

Griess has a bachelor's degree in workforce development from Southern Illinois University; master's degree in human resources and information technology from Lesley University; Master of Public Administration from Harvard University; master's degree in National Security from Industrial College of the Armed Forces (now Eisenhower School) and a doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Capella University. He looks forward to relocating to the nation's capital with his wife, Sun.

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About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov, and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.