photo by Bill Hayden

Chas Cartwright

Chas Cartwright

Chas Cartwright became the 21st Superintendent of Glacier National Park on June 8, 2008. He leads nearly 450 permanent and temporary employees and nearly 1,500 volunteers who attend to more than 1 million acres of glaciers, lakes, streams, wilderness, and wildlife habitat, as well as hundreds of recreational sites and facilities.

Cartwright is responsible for an annual base budget of more than $12 million. Nearly 2.1 million visitors passed through Glacier’s gates last year, and the number continues to grow steadily.

Cartwright has set an agenda of building relationships for the benefit of the Park and its owners, the American people. "One of my top priorities is to strengthen teamwork within the Park," the Superintendent said. "I will also focus on our ties with Park neighbors, especially local communities and tribes."

In assuming the superintendency at Glacier, Cartwright celebrates 36 years of federal service, including 21 years with the National Park Service. He formerly served as Superintendent at Shenandoah National Park in Virginia.

He has held a number of managerial positions during his government service, including Associate to the Deputy Director of the National Park Service in 2004 and 2005. He was Superintendent of Dinosaur National Monument from 2002 through 2004, Acting Superintendent of Carlsbad Caverns National Park in 2000 for seven months, Superintendent of Devils Tower National Monument from 1998 through 2001, Superintendent of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site from 1993 through 1998, Superintendent of Hovenweep National Monument from 1990 through 1993, and Acting Superintendent of Natural Bridges National Monument in 1989 for three months.

Cartwright worked at Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Natural Bridges National Monument as an archeologist from 1987 through 1990.

Prior to his work with the National Park Service, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho, Arizona, and Utah as an archeologist from 1977 through 1987. He also worked for the United States Forest Service in California and Idaho as a fire fighter, river ranger, and fire lookout from 1972 through 1977.

Cartwright is married to Lynda Stocks, who has a son and daughter, and they, in turn, have five grandchildren. "To say that my wife Lynda and I are excited about moving to Glacier country is an understatement," he said.

Cartwright was born and reared in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in anthropology in 1972.

He is an enthusiastic outdoorsman who regularly bikes, skis, swims, hikes, and kayaks. He has already begun to venture into the park to explore the unparalleled opportunities it offers to promote fitness and enjoy the nation’s wild places.