Robert Stanton
Encyclopedia
Beginning as a seasonal ranger at Grand Teton National Park
in 1962, Robert G. Stanton (born September 22, 1940) served the NPS as a ranger, superintendent, deputy regional director, assistant director, and regional director of the National Capital Region before retiring in January 1997. That August the Clinton administration restored him to active duty, making him the first NPS careerist since Dickenson to head the bureau. Also its first African American director, Stanton has taken particular interest in increasing the diversity of the service's staff and public programs to better serve minority populations.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he grew-up in Mosier Valley, one of the oldest African American communities in Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963, from Huston-Tillotson University
in Austin, Texas
, did graduate work at Boston University, and George Washington University, and has completed numerous programs in conservation, management, and executive leadership.
Mr. Stanton began his Federal career as a seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, during the summers of 1962 and 1963. He took a full-time position with the National Park Service in 1966 as a personnel management and public information specialist in Washington, D.C. In 1969, he moved to National Capital Parks-Central, as a management assistant, and in 1970, became superintendent of National Capital Parks-East. A year later he was appointed superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park
, St. Thomas
, and in 1974, he became Deputy Regional Director of the Southeast Region in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1976, Mr. Stanton returned to Washington, D.C.
, as Assistant Director, Park Operations, and in 1978, went on to become Deputy Regional Director of the National Capital Region, a position he held for eight years. IN 1987, he returned to headquarters, as Associate Director for Operations and in 1988 became Regional Director of the National Capital Region where he served until retirement.
Mr. Stanton is an executive professor in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University.
Grand Teton National Park
Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in northwestern Wyoming, U.S. The Park consists of approximately and includes the major peaks of the long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Only south of Yellowstone...
in 1962, Robert G. Stanton (born September 22, 1940) served the NPS as a ranger, superintendent, deputy regional director, assistant director, and regional director of the National Capital Region before retiring in January 1997. That August the Clinton administration restored him to active duty, making him the first NPS careerist since Dickenson to head the bureau. Also its first African American director, Stanton has taken particular interest in increasing the diversity of the service's staff and public programs to better serve minority populations.
A native of Fort Worth, Texas, he grew-up in Mosier Valley, one of the oldest African American communities in Texas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963, from Huston-Tillotson University
Huston-Tillotson University
Huston–Tillotson University is a historically black university in Austin, Texas, United States. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church, the United Church of Christ, and the United Negro College Fund....
in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, did graduate work at Boston University, and George Washington University, and has completed numerous programs in conservation, management, and executive leadership.
Mr. Stanton began his Federal career as a seasonal park ranger at Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, during the summers of 1962 and 1963. He took a full-time position with the National Park Service in 1966 as a personnel management and public information specialist in Washington, D.C. In 1969, he moved to National Capital Parks-Central, as a management assistant, and in 1970, became superintendent of National Capital Parks-East. A year later he was appointed superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park
Virgin Islands National Park is a United States National Park covering approximately 60% of the island of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands, plus a few isolated sites on the neighboring island of St. Thomas...
, St. Thomas
Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Saint Thomas is an island in the Caribbean Sea and with the islands of Saint John, Saint Croix, and Water Island a county and constituent district of the United States Virgin Islands , an unincorporated territory of the United States. Located on the island is the territorial capital and port of...
, and in 1974, he became Deputy Regional Director of the Southeast Region in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1976, Mr. Stanton returned to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as Assistant Director, Park Operations, and in 1978, went on to become Deputy Regional Director of the National Capital Region, a position he held for eight years. IN 1987, he returned to headquarters, as Associate Director for Operations and in 1988 became Regional Director of the National Capital Region where he served until retirement.
Mr. Stanton is an executive professor in the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Sciences at Texas A&M University.
Career
| Title | From | TO |
|---|---|---|
| Superintendent, National Capital Parks-East | 8/23/1970 | 8/22/1971 |
| Superintendent, Virgin Islands National Park Virgin Islands National Park Virgin Islands National Park is a United States National Park covering approximately 60% of the island of Saint John in the United States Virgin Islands, plus a few isolated sites on the neighboring island of St. Thomas... |
8/22/1971 | 2/1/1974 |
| Dept. Reg. Dir., Southeast Region | 4/28/1974 | 3/27/1976 |
| Asst Dir., Resource Mgnt | 3/29/1976 | 5/15/1976 |
| Asst Dir., Park Operations | 5/28/1977 | 12/31/1978 |
| Dep. Reg.Dir., National Capital Parks | 5/28/1977 | 12/31/1978 |
| Assoc Dir., Park Operations | 6/21/1987 | 12/17/1988 |
| Director | 8/4/1997 | 1/2001 |
See also
- National Park ServiceNational Park ServiceThe National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
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