Leslie Reynolds has been part of many life-saving operations during her 21-year career in the National Park Service/NPS

Leslie Reynolds, a 21-year National Park Service veteran and currently the chief ranger at Cape Cod National Seashore, will receive the most prestigious ranger award, the Harry Yount Award for Excellence in the Art of Rangering, at a ceremony today in Washington, D.C.

“I consider myself very fortunate to have chosen a career that is rewarding, that I am proud of, and one that continues to challenge me every day,” Reynolds said in a release announcing the award last week. “My inspiration comes mostly from the rangers of the National Park Service with whom I have had the great honor of working with for the past 20 years. One of the most rewarding aspects of my profession is developing and mentoring others and watching them succeed, grow, and contribute to the ranger profession.”

Leslie Reynolds/NPS

Reynolds started her career as a seasonal law enforcement officer at Yosemite National Park in 1995 and rose through the ranks to supervise Yosemite Valley, the busiest district in the park. She has also worked at Grand Canyon and Shenandoah national parks.

Reynolds has had a distinguished career as a ranger, law enforcement officer, park medic, investigator, incident commander and leader/mentor to countless park rangers. She was a member of a special response team that handled high-risk law enforcement situations and incidents. She has dangled 200 feet from a helicopter to rescue an injured climber, patrolled on horseback, led multiday searches for lost visitors, and treated major trauma injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents and falls.

Understanding prevention and educating potential victims is effective in saving lives, Reynolds was instrumental in developing the Preventative Search & Rescue programs at Yosemite and Shenandoah. She also taught Operational Leadership and EMS to empower NPS staff. She has served as a member of the Critical Incident Stress Management Team, responding to numerous major traumatic events and helping team members cope with what they have been through and seen.

Currently, she is a part of a group that brings the community of Cape Cod together and uses the best science to better understand shark behavior and educate the public to be shark smart.

“On a cold February day in the early ’90s, a recent college graduate on a road trip stood on the rim of the Grand Canyon, mesmerized by the view, and decided, right then and there, that she wanted to be a park ranger,” National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis said in a release. “Today, Leslie is one of the most talented and respected rangers in the country. Her decision that day changed not just the direction of her life, but the lives of countless people who have benefitted from her skill, courage, and determination.”

Reynolds will receive the Yount Award today during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks. The award is named after the first known park ranger, hired to patrol Yellowstone National Park in 1880. The annual peer-nominated award recognizes a ranger who reflects high standards and a commitment to the National Park Service mission. He or she serves as a role model, demonstrating unfailing leadership and the ability to do tough jobs well.

“It’s dedicated and effective National Park Service employees like Leslie who are helping to make the national parks the best place for our fellow Americans to visit and enjoy every day,” National Park Foundation President Will Shafroth said. “She is truly helping the parks achieve that margin of excellence on a daily basis and we are honored to have the opportunity to recognize her valiant efforts.”