Jonathan Jarvis


Jonathan B. Jarvis served as the 18th Director of the United States National Park Service, confirmed by the United States Senate on September 25, 2009 and serving until his retirement on January 3, 2017.
During his tenure, Jarvis faced criticism from Congress and watchdog organizations, claiming his oversight of the service failed to address a culture of sexual harassment and park mismanagement.

Early life

Jarvis graduated from The College of William & Mary, where he became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, in 1975 with a degree in biology.

Career

Jarvis served for three years as the superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park in Ashford, Washington. He was superintendent of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho and Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve in Alaska during the 1990s.
Jarvis was serving as regional director for the Pacific West Region when, on July 10, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Jarvis for the directorship following the resignation of Mary A. Bomar on January 20, 2009, the day of President Obama's inauguration. A career civil servant, Jarvis had been with the service for over 30 years.
On October 24, 2017, Jarvis was appointed as the executive director of UC Berkeley's Institute for Parks, People, and Diversity.
During his tenure, Jarvis faced criticism from Congress and watchdog organizations, claiming his oversight of the service failed to address a culture of sexual harassment and park mismanagement.
Jarvis retired from his position on January 3, 2017. He was immediately succeeded by Michael Reynolds, who was appointed as acting director.
In 2018 University of Chicago Press published a book co-authored by Jarvis, The Future of Conservation in America: A Chart for Rough Water.