New Acting Superintendent Named At Joshua Tree National Park

The National Park Service announced that Kevin Hendricks has been appointed the Acting Superintendent at Joshua Tree National Park.

Hendricks, currently the Chief Ranger at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, will become the second interim Superintendent at Joshua Tree. He replaces Lizette Richardson who has returned to her positions as Chief of Maintenance and Engineering at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

The job of Superintendent at Joshua Tree National Park became vacant with the retirement of Curt Sauer on September 30.

The selection of Hendricks as Acting Superintendent was made by the Pacific West Region?s Associate Regional Director for Park Operations Martha Lee.

Kevin Hendrick?s tenure as Acting Superintendent begins Wednesday, and is expected to last 60 days.

As Acting Superintendent, he will oversee operations for the 794,000-acre national park that receives 1.3 million annual visitors, has a $6.2 million annual budget, and a staff of 144 permanent and temporary park employees. ?Joshua Tree is a fantastic park and I?m excited about this opportunity? said Hendricks. ?I spent a great deal of time at Joshua Tree climbing, camping and exploring in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and I?m looking forward to experiencing the park once again.?