Michael T. Reynolds, Acting National Park Service Director, announced the appointment of Laura E. Joss as superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in San Francisco. Joss’ most recent position was as the regional director for the Park Service’s Pacific West Region.
“Laura’s collaborative leadership skills and passion for urban parks makes her well suited for this position,” said Reynolds. “Her commitment to transparency, working with communities, partnerships and youth, coupled with her park management experience, will serve the park well.”
A 27-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), Joss has worked in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as the Pacific West Region’s Regional Director. She also served as deputy regional director and chief of staff, as well as associate regional director for resource stewardship and research, for the Park Service’s Intermountain Region. Joss earlier served as superintendent at Arches National Park, deputy superintendent of the NPS Southeast Utah Group, superintendent of Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine and Hampton National Historic Site in Maryland and chief of the cultural resources branch at Yellowstone National Park.
“I am thrilled to be returning to a park, especially one known for creating innovative partnerships and being so strongly tied to the community. I look forward to working with staff, volunteers and partners in the days ahead,” said Joss.
Joss is married to Skip Meehan, a San Francisco native, who is also an employee of the National Park Service. They met while working at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and have two daughters, Lindsay and Elizabeth, as well as two miniature Australian Shepherds. Joss enjoys running, biking, pottery and exploring national park sites and museums with her family.
Joss started her new post in November. Deputy Regional Director Martha Lee will serve as acting regional director for the Pacific West Region until a permanent replacement is selected.
The National Park Service has more than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 417 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, situated in and around San Francisco, is the most visited park in the National Park Service, hosting over 15.5 million visitors last year. A diverse park with abundant recreational opportunities, as well as natural, cultural and scenic resources, it encompasses more than 80,000 acres across three counties. The park also administers two other NPS areas, Fort Point National Historic Site, a Civil War era fortress built on the northernmost point of land in San Francisco, and Muir Woods National Monument which comprises an impressive stand of old growth coastal redwoods in Marin County.place holder