Mt. Whitney Portal Store & Hostel Forums General Mt. Whitney Portal Store Message Board Outstanding Rangers in the NPS

Having recently read the book about Randy Morgenstern, THE LAST SEASON...which I STRONGLY recommend, I am sensitive to what Rangers, particularly seasonal Rangers, do.

On todays "Morning Report", the NPS's daily log of "things, they announced their nominees for the highest award they have for Rangers. I was very heartened by this....until I read it.

Virtually all are administrators or law enforcement officers.
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Servicewide Harry Yount Award Nominees Announced


The nominees for the 2007 Servicewide Harry Yount Award have been announced. The recipient of the award will be recognized for his/her overall impact, record of accomplishment, and excellence in traditional ranger duties. The Yount Award is one of the highest recognitions a ranger can receive. The nominees for the Servicewide award have already achieved recognition by being awarded their regional Harry Yount awards for 2007.

Consequently, recipients of the Harry Yount Award should represent the heart of the ranger corps, reflecting its high standards and commitment to the Service’s mission. They should be knowledgeable of and sensitive to the natural, cultural and recreational resources that make up the National Park System, placing them foremost in their priorities. Their leadership in being able and willing to do the tough jobs well, with style, grace, appreciation and humor - should serve as a role model for all rangers. They should represent the torch by which the highest and best traditions and values of the Service are carried and passed on.


This year’s nominees are:


Gary Youngblood, Alaska Region, Chief of Operations, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Gary Youngblood’s 25-year career with the National Park Service is certainly in the mold of many, if not most, of the ideals that this Harry Yount Award recognizes and honors. Gary represents a tradition of rangers that, in present day terms, would be considered the classic old time ranger generalist. He has worked in the field, by choice, his entire career and chose to be a seasonal ranger for nearly 15 years in order to remain in the field and close to the visitor and the natural and cultural resources.


Matt Stoffolano, Inter-Mountain Region, District Ranger, Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Mike Stoffolano came to Organ Pipe NM three years ago following the murder of ranger Chris Eggle – he was willing to go to Organ Pipe and take on a difficult border assignment when others in the service would not. Since he has been there, he has demonstrated outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions, high standards for performance, excellence in ranger duties and skills, and excellence in service. He was challenged with developing new techniques, advanced patrol tactics, and forming the core of a newly revamped ranger operation at the park.


Michael D. Pflaum, Midwest Region, Chief Ranger, Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Mike Pflaum exemplifies the values represented by the Harry Yount Award, and epitomizes Stephen Mather’s description of a ranger being “fine, earnest, intelligent, public-spirited, and of large influence” Mike’s contributions and accomplishments over the past five years have substantially benefited the American public, the National Park Service, and the ranger corps. As chief ranger, Mike demonstrates superb mentoring, role model, and leadership abilities. He’s innovative in recruiting and coaching college students to develop full-performance rangers, and successful in attracting experienced rangers. He has broadened staff diversity, and has crafted a dynamic, broad-based, and motivated team.


Thomas J. Jones, National Capital Region, Park Ranger, Antietam National Battlefield. Ranger Thomas Jones has been with the National Park Service since August, 1991. Working at Greenbelt Park from 1991 to1996, he obtained his law enforcement commission at FLETC in 1995. He transferred to Antietam National Battlefield as a protection ranger in July, 1996, where he continues to serve with professionalism, mentors and leads other rangers, and remains committed to growth in his own ranger career. In May 2006, Jones applied for and was selected for the newly established supervisory park ranger (protection) in the Division of Natural Resources Management and Protection. He now has supervisory responsibility over four protection rangers and assists the division chief with management responsibilities for resources and visitor protection programs.


Gordon Wissinger, Northeast Region, Chief Ranger, Shenandoah National Park. Gordon is currently the chief ranger at the same park that inspired the beginning of his career. As the chief ranger, Gordon’s actions, standards and leadership epitomizes the art of being a ranger. Rangers and managers alike have a true respect for Gordon and his abilities. Gary Somers, former chief of natural and cultural resources at Shenandoah, said of Gordon: “To me, Gordon is what a chief ranger should be. He knows what it means to be a professional ranger; knows how to effectively represent those interests and concerns as a member of the management team; reaches out to other members of the management team and their staff to both better understand issues and to find solutions to those issues that incorporate all perspectives; earns the trust of everyone with whom he works and turns that trust into respect; can disagree agreeably and still have meaningful discussions at a professional level; and can organize a ranger division into an effective and efficient team that meets the needs of the park.”


Denny Ziemann, Pacific West Region, Chief Ranger, Mojave National Preserve. Denny Ziemann is often referred to as a "ranger's ranger." Throughout his distinguished career with the National Park Service, Denny has embraced the fundamental principles, mission and direction envisioned by the founders of the NPS almost a century ago. Throughout the past two decades, the NPS has increasingly focused on reinforcing the generalist, professional ranger, while recognizing the essential and growing foundation of law enforcement. Denny's skills and abilities mesh perfectly with this direction and are regularly acknowledged by his subordinates, peers and supervisors as outstanding in his field.


Ove Jensen, Southeast Region, Park Ranger, Horseshoe Bend National Military Park. Ove Jensen has provided over a decade of sustained outstanding performance, positive portrayal of the ranger image, and continued involvement with local partners, ranging from individuals to universities to state and local government officials. Ove grew up in the vicinity of Horseshoe Bend NMP and from an early age set his sights on the role of interpretive ranger at “the Bend.” His father, a doctor of education at nearby Auburn University, established an environmental learning program at the park during the 1970s and 1980s Earth Day heydays and inculcated in his son a love of the place, the people, and the past. Onsite, Ove’s contributions are apparent at every bend in the tour road and are woven through the park brochure, read by over 100,000 people each year.

Well, at least the first one has more "in the field" work: I did not see field work stressed for any of the others. Unfortunate.

Thanks for posting this.

I think you're reading too much into these folks' titles. Additionally, even if not specifically stated, extensive field service certainly seems to be strongly implied. I doubt one gets to be a Chief Ranger or the like, nor does one exemplify the kinds of traits and skills listed in the above descriptions without a significant amount of field experience. Several of the descriptions (as one example "...has embraced the fundamental principles, mission and direction envisioned by the founders of the NPS almost a century ago...") would certainly imply field service, as I read these. The seemingly administrative title of some of these positions would not seem to necessarily limit the duties of that position to merely administrative tasks nor merely to administrative experience as a requirement to have been hired for that position.

Unfortunately, I do volunteer work that puts me into contact with a variety of people with those titles. All of them are desk-bound, and are lucky to get into the backcountry once a year. (on duty)

Looking at the specifics, most are lauded for organizational skills, team leading, law enforcement integration, etc.

Not much ground-pounding cited.

But it does tell you what is valued by the organization....

Sad...

I work in a National Park each summer and can tell you that most of the senior folks I've met have the vast majority of their field experience in what is called the front country. That generally means within a few miles of a road. The back country rangers, who go out and spend most of their time in the wilderness, don't typically go too high in the NPS organization.

Let's face it, the vast majority of people visiting the parks don't usually get far away from the main attractions near the roads. It is no surprise that is where the majority of NPS resources are placed and where the senior folks come from.

Just a mild aside, but did anyone else notice the lack of female representation in the nominees? I just finished reading a history of the role of women in the development of the NPS, and it's kind of sad to see that there may yet be a solid old-boys network there...

This is not to be accusatory, just something I noticed. Hmmm...

BTW: I highly recommend the book. I'll get the title and author tonight when I get home and post it if anyone's interested.

-L

The Book is "The Last Season" Author is Eric Blehm. Great reading. I couldn't put it down and finished it in two afternoons. The backcountry rangers are surely over looked in more ways than just awards. They provide such a great service to the backcountry hiker. I want to give a hearty thanks to Lower Rock Creek Ranger Laura Pelewski. She helped us last September when my friend became ill 15 miles from the nearest trail head. She was able to evaluate my friends condition, I think they are all EMT certified, called a physician by radio phone to confirm diagnosis and then offered to keep our packs at her cabin for later retrieval so we could hike out faster. She is a credit to the Backcountry Rangers.
After reading the book, I now have an even greater respect for all the unseen work these rangers put in. They obviously do it because they love the job. It certainly isn't for the great pay and benefits package.

Gary

Actually, the one I read was "National Parks and the Woman's Voice: A History" by Polly Welts Kaufman. Also very good and thorough in regards to how difficult it was to break into the ranger culture and establish their roles as "equals".

-L

On an entirely different note, today I went out on the Los Padres National Forest to do some trailwork under their Rec Officer, Heidi Anderson. It is a small world. She used to work on the Inyo, and in the 90's was the Whitney Ranger, and knows the longtime cast of characters.

She also worked in SEKI, and when I brought up "The Last Season", we had a very interesting conversation, as she is still very good friends with Lo Lyness, and knows many of the people in the book.

Finally, just for Bob R, she used to rent from Al Green.

Just a thought as to why administrators tend to be front country folks: Aren't most back country rangers seasonal? Wouldn't that keep them under the radar when it comes to recognition awards? I don't know what the nomination and selection process is, but I would guess it is driven by bureaucratic type career officers who are going to choose from people who are familiar to them, i.e., front country year around employees. Maybe there's nothing sinister here, just peoples' own natural tendency to be most comfortable with that which is most familiar to them.

Is there a need or desire for some organization or group of back country users to start a recognition program for the Rangers they come in contact with? Seems like a worthy project to me.
Lynn

And Ken could use his retirement to spend a little time with each of the Backcountry Rangers! And then make the choice for the award. Another good reason to put away the boat shoes.

Richard, I'll get right on that!

leh, I think of this as an unfortunate trend for some time: Anyone in a Park Service or USFS uniform has become a "ranger". Not to me.
They are ground pounders, involved in resource conservation and protection, and are not law enforcement officers. Of course, the reality has undermined that. Even the backcountry rangers are LEOs, now, and have their guns.

Ken could take them sailing to see if their sea legs are as strong as their trail legs...

-L