HARKERS ISLAND — After serving as acting superintendent of Cape Lookout National Seashore since May, Jeff West has been selected to serve as superintendent effective Nov. 12, National Park Service Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin announced Thursday.
“Jeff is deeply committed to protecting America’s most treasured resources,” Austin said in a statement. “He approached his acting assignment at Cape Lookout as a critical mission and quickly earned the community’s trust. Jeff’s skills and experience are ideal for the superintendency, which requires astute leadership and collaboration.”
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“I strongly believe national parks are a part of the community and I look forward to continuing my work with the people of Carteret County and North Carolina,“ West commented. “I cannot express how much it means to me to have been selected for this opportunity. To work in an incredible park and community with such a rich culture and history is truly a blessing.”
West joins Cape Lookout after a two-year assignment as deputy superintendent at New River Gorge National River, Gauley National Recreational Area and Bluestone National Scenic River in West Virginia. He began his National Park Service career in 1983 and has worked at some of the nation’s most recognized parks, including Everglades National Park, Cape Cod National Seashore, Boston National Historical Park and Canyonlands National Park.
As operations section chief for the Midwest and Eastern Incident Management Teams, West played a pivotal role in managing the National Park Service’s involvement in Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia in 2017, the War of 1812 Bicentennial commemoration, multiple Civil War Sesquicentennial events and responses to Hurricanes Irene, Matthew and Sandy.
West spent 28 years of his National Park Service career in law enforcement, from which he retired as a chief ranger. He also gained valuable experience in other key agency functions, including interpretation and maintenance.
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