Sarah Creachbaum was named today as the new superintendent of Olympic National Park. She replaces Karen Gustin who retired in March, after over 30 years with the National Park Service.

Creachbaum is currently serving as superintendent of Haleakala National Park. She has been at the park on the island of Maui since 2009. Before that, she was superintendent at War in the Pacific National Historical Park on the island of Guam and American Memorial Park on the island of Saipan.

“I am absolutely thrilled to work at Olympic; it has always been a dream,” Creachbaum said in a prepared statement. “I look forward to working with the park staff and the community to protect the outstanding resources of the park.”

Creachbaum’s duties as superintendent will begin this fall when she moves
to the Olympic Peninsula with her husband Bob and their border collie
Jimmy, said a National Park Service news release.

“Sarah is a proven leader and team builder, with strong wilderness management expertise. She is known for her creativity and inclusive management style,” Pacific West Regional Director Chris Lehnertz said in a prepared statement. “Sarah’s ability to listen and collaborate within cultures and communities and then to create a shared vision, will be an asset to Olympic National Park.”

Creachbaum began her career as a recreation and wilderness manager for the Shoshone National Forest in Cody, Wyo., in 1990. Her National Park Service career includes stops at Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Saguaro national parks. Creachbaum currently serves as co-chair of the National Park Service Wilderness Leadership Council.

She received a Master’s degree in landscape architecture and environmental planning from Utah State University in 1994.

She also was the 2004 National Park Service Bevinetto Fellow, and served in Washington D.C. as a staff member for the Senate Subcommittee on National
Parks.