Information on NPS State Grants Re-alignment
NPS announced a re-alignment of their State Assistance program, which you all received. The NASORLO Board was informed, that even though this is a movement of the program lower in the NPS Org chart, it actually would seem to be better for us and their program..See the following statement from Tom Wolfe our NASORLO representative, through our MOU with NASPD.. He gives his perspective as a former NPS employee.. He formerly performed in one of these roles.
As a former chief of congressional affairs at NPS, I know the organizational flow and the people there fairly well. While the new chart may appear to add a level of reporting, I believe having SLA now report directly to the assistant director for Partnerships and Civic Engagement is a good move for us. The old chart with the reporting line from SLA going directly to the deputy director for Communications and Community Assistance presented somewhat of a challenge. Particularly since that deputy is a political appointee charged with keeping an ear on any NPS related directives coming from the Office of the Secretary.
I believe Joel as chief of SLA is a solid, career professional who will be better served by Rich Weideman a similarly solid career professional who will be able to administer and respond with actions and decisions in a more timely and necessary fashion.
Attached below are the org charts, before and after .. FYI
