Ian Brickey (202) 675-6270, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the White House announced that President Joe Biden selected Charles F. Sams III to serve as the nineteenth permanent director of the National Park Service. Sams currently serves as a council member to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, a position he was appointed to by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Sams would be the first Indigenous person to lead NPS.
Sams has an extensive background working with Tribal Nations throughout the Pacific Northwest.
NPS has not had a permanent, Senate-confirmed director since 2017, when Jonathan Jarvis retired. Ex-President Donald Trump nominated David Vela to lead the office in 2019, but he ultimately withdrew his name from consideration.
In response to the nomination, Christine Hill, senior director of Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign, released the following statement:
"Public lands and parks have lacked permanent agency leadership for too long. We are pleased that the White House has taken steps to fill this void.
“From their carbon-capturing capacities to their mental and physical health benefits, these national parks and public lands play a key role in our response to the climate crisis, biodiversity crisis, and nature equity crisis. As the first Indigenous American picked to lead the Park Service, this nomination is historic. We look forward to working with Mr. Sams in this role.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.