Nigel Fields / NPS.

The National Park Service announced that Nigel Fields has arrived on St. John and will take over as the acting Superintendent for Virgin Islands National Park. Nigel has a combined federal career of more than 20 years of public service. 

Caribbean Group Superintendent Randy Lavasseur welcomed Nigel’s selection, stating: “Nigel Fields is a well-respected member of the National Park Service and it’s an honor to have him here in the Caribbean as the superintendent of the Virgin Islands National Park. His work ethic, experience and leadership style will benefit all user groups, stakeholders and of course the staff".

Nigel brings a wealth of experience in strengthening community partnerships, advancing education, managing public lands and supporting cutting edge scientific research. In the six years prior to arriving on St. John, Nigel held leadership positions in the National Park Service’s Washington D.C. Support Office and Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta, GA, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. 

Inspired by the vision of the National Park Service’s next 100 years of stewardship, Nigel continues to advance the mission of the NPS through delivering K-12 education, creating new citizen science opportunities, promoting public health in low income, urban communities and providing conservation-related job skills to high school youth and matriculating young adults. In 2015 and 2016, he facilitated the NPS Academy sessions for high school seniors and college youth in East Tennessee and New York City. During this time, he also participated as a lead interpreter for the Walking Classroom, which commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery walk. 

Before joining the National Park Service in 2011, Nigel spent 15 years as an Environmental Health Scientist at the Environmental Protection Agency, including serving as the Regional Science Program Director within the Office of Research and Development. At the Environmental Protection Agency, Nigel promoted community-based science solutions that protect children and vulnerable populations from threatening toxics in their air, food and water. 

Nigel holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology from Tulane University and received a Master’s of Science Degree in Environmental Health Sciences from the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. He is a founding board member of the Homer A. Please Community School in New Orleans, a Public Lands Alliance member and an Ecological Society of America member. Nigel also experienced great adventures serving as a recent foster parent in East Tennessee. 

After being selected, Nigel described his excitement for this opportunity: “Virgin Islands National Park is inimitable in every way. And so are the residents and frequent visitors of the Virgin Islands. The welcome mat has already been warm and expansive. There is clearly much to do in restoring visitor services, increasing job opportunities and strengthening education programs that all benefit the local economy. Partnering is key to coming up with novel solutions. Without a doubt, I know that we can succeed if we can face our challenges together with courage. We can build upon our shared strengths and prepare our youth for the world they will inherit.”