Will Shafroth, who worked in the Interior Department under former Secretary Ken Salazar, has been hired as CEO and president of the National Park Foundation.

Shafroth fills a void created when former CEO and President Neil Mulholland abruptly left the organization last fall. Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk served in an interim capacity, but returned to his park earlier this year.

Shafroth will oversee the Foundation’s work, including its operations, philanthropic support through individual and foundation giving, corporate partnerships, and its promotion of the National Park Service Centennial celebration. He joins the Foundation on the heels of its launch of the Find Your Park movement – a public awareness and engagement campaign to inspire people to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks.

“Will has a passion for public lands and the necessary experience to guide the Foundation into the future as the National Park Service celebrates its centennial next year,” said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “I look forward to working with him as we deepen philanthropic support for the parks to preserve and enhance our nation’s most treasured natural, cultural and historical places while ensuring that all people, especially young people who represent the rich diversity of our country, feel welcome and engaged in their parks and public lands.”

At the National Park Service, Director Jon Jarvis said, “Will is a proven leader, devoted to providing and improving outdoor recreational opportunities for everyone. We will all benefit from his ability to connect supporters to national parks, especially as we approach the centennial of the National Park Service in 2016. I look forward to once again working closely with him."

Shafroth brings more than three decades of experience working to advance conservation and outdoor recreation. In his most recent appointment at the Department of the Interior, he served as Secretary Salazar’s Counselor for America’s Great Outdoors. In that role, he was responsible for developing and executing a 21st-century conservation and recreation agenda for America’s land, water and wildlife. His leadership on the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative focused significantly on reconnecting people to the outdoors.

Shafroth served as acting assistant secretary and principal deputy assistant secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior. While at Interior, Shafroth worked closely with the National Park Service on a broad range of budget, policy and program initiatives, represented Secretary Salazar on the board of the National Park Foundation, and served as Acting Commissioner of the National Parks of New York Harbor. Prior to his work at Interior, Shafroth served as executive director of the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund and the Colorado Conservation Trust and chairman of the Land Trust Alliance and Resources Legacy Fund.

“I am honored to join the National Park Foundation’s distinguished board of directors, passionate staff, and extensive network of supporters at such an exciting time for America’s national parks,” said Mr. Shafroth. “I look forward to working with partners all across the country to make our national parks, America’s best idea, even better for the next century and beyond.”