Pat Kenney

Pat Kenney Named Deputy Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone National Park has named a new deputy superintendent: Patrick (Pat) Kenney.

Kenney’s predecessor, Deputy Superintendent Steve Iobst, retired earlier this year in September after serving for five years.

Superintendent Dan Wenk made the announcement in a press release, saying “I am happy that Pat will join our team and provide leadership for Yellowstone … He comes to us with extensive operational experience, project management skills, and the ability to build relationships both inside and outside the organization.” From the press release:

Mr. Kenney is currently serving as the superintendent of Cape Lookout National Seashore in North Carolina. In this role since 2011, Mr. Kenney completed many projects and handled issues including major facility improvements, a new concessions contract for a passenger ferry service, storm recovery efforts following Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, management of off-road vehicles to ensure the preservation of shorebirds and sea turtles, and improved energy efficiency in the park.

“I am thrilled to become the deputy superintendent at Yellowstone, the world’s first national park,” said Pat Kenney. “While I’m sorry to leave my staff, colleagues, and partners at Cape Lookout, I am ready for this challenge and am honored to serve on Yellowstone’s management team.”

Prior to managing Cape Lookout, Mr. Kenney served as the planning branch chief at the Denver Service Center (DSC), which is the central planning, design, and construction management project office for the National Park Service. At DSC, he managed numerous planning efforts in a variety of parks including Mount Rainier, Everglades, Big Cypress, and Badlands.

Mr. Kenney began his National Park Service career as a resource management specialist at Big Cypress National Preserve in 1990. He was effective at obtaining funding and successfully completing numerous natural resource restoration projects, as well as being involved in an array of planning issues within the preserve.

Mr. Kenney, a 26-year veteran of the NPS, is a certified project manager and has a degree in zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He and his wife Dyanne are happy about returning to the West and exploring the Greater Yellowstone area.

As deputy superintendent, Kenney will be responsible for day-to-day operations in Yellowstone National Park, which includes: maintenance, law enforcement, search and rescue, emergency medical, wildland and structural fire, resource education, youth programs, resources management, science, research, business management, contracting, and human resources.

About Sean Reichard

Sean Reichard is the editor of Yellowstone Insider and author of Yellowstone Insider For Families 2017.

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