Charles Sams has been confirmed as the director of the National Park Service.

Editor's note: This updates with additional reaction to the confirmation of Charles Sams as the director of the National Park Service.

Approval of the U.S. Senate's confirmation of Charles "Chuck" Sams as director of the National Park Service was voiced Friday as the agency awoke for the first time in nearly five years with a permanent director.

The confirmation came late Thursday as the Senate worked past sundown. Not only does Sams become the first permanent director since Jonathan Jarvis stepped down at the end of the Obama administration in January 2017, but he becomes the first Native American to hold the position in the agency's 105-year history.

Sams does not come into an easy job. Awaiting him are reports on harassment across the National Park System, questions about how the agency has been spending hundreds of millions of dollars in Great American Outdoors Funds, issues with housing for Park Service employees, and an influx of nearly $2 billion tied to the Biden administration infrastructure legislation.

“It is an honor to officially welcome Chuck Sams as National Park Service director and recognize the significance of the first Indigenous leader in the agency’s 105-year history," Theresa Pierno, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association, said Thursday night after the vote.  "Our national parks are part of the ‘forever business’ but are under enormous threat today, from the climate crisis to crumbling infrastructure, internal staffing issues to overcrowding. Shaping a better future for our 423 national parks, which protect wild nature and share our country’s rich and diverse history and cultures, requires a strong leader.

"My recent conversations with Chuck and knowledge of his tribal government and deep, community-inspired leadership roles confirmed that he is capable and ready to take on this responsibility."

Among those voicing support Friday was the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks, where Chair Phil Francis called the confirmation vote a relief in light of the long vacancy.

“The NPS has a long and storied history but recent challenges, including declining employee morale and underfunding, have been worsened by the lack of a Senate-confirmed and permanent director to lead the agency," said Francis. "Mr. Sams understands the agency and values stewardship of the environment in a way that aligns very closely with the NPS mission. He has the background, knowledge, and passion to become a strong leader and advocate for the National Park System. We believe he is committed to making a difference and being a leader that NPS employees will admire and respect.

"There is much work to be done," Francis added. "We look forward to working with Mr. Sams to protect national monuments and public lands, advance the America the Beautiful initiative, combat climate change, ensure that appropriate funding is in place for our national parks and programs, and support NPS employees who work tirelessly to preserve and protect our national parks.”

Sams said during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that raising employee morale across a workforce that stretches from American Samoa to the Caribbean would be his top priority if confirmed.

With that said, awaiting him in the director's office is a report on harassment across the park system, and concerns over employee housing in areas where there is not enough suitable housing and where seasonal employees' salaries often aren't enough to cover rent in gateway towns where airbnb and VRBO have taken hold.

Then, too, there's the challenge of climate change and how it is impacting the National Park System and what can be done to mitigate those impacts.

At the Chesapeake Conservancy, President and CEO Joel Dunn noted the distinction of both Sams and Interior Secretary Deb Haaland being Native Americans.

“The hard truth for conservationists is that much of America’s public lands, including many of its iconic national parks, were created through the forced migration of Indigenous peoples. The impacts of those terrible policies have been generational and continue to challenge Indigenous communities today," said Dunn. "As our country works to address those past tragedies, it is appropriate that the leadership of the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior reflect a new direction and a commitment to equitable partnership with the Indigenous peoples of the United States.

"The National Park System provides the opportunity to bring people together, to tell powerful stories of our shared history, our incredible nature and wildlife, and our rich and diverse cultures," he added. "The role of parks in bringing people together, and the need for an inclusive park experience, is more important than ever. This is an opportunity to expand the National Park System in places like the Chesapeake Bay to increase access for everyone to the great outdoors."

In a statement, the National Park Foundation said "[A]s an Umatilla Tribal Citizen and the first Native American to lead the agency responsible for managing more than 420 park sites across the country, Director Sams brings extensive knowledge and experience working with state and local agencies, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations, and deep appreciation for the many communities connected to and affected by our national parks. The National Park Foundation is excited to work with Director Sams to inspire all people to connect with and protect America’s national parks, expand public-private partnerships and increase philanthropic support to parks."

Sams was nominated for the position by the Biden administration back in mid-August. He is an enrolled member, Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon. He worked in state and tribal governments and the non-profit natural resource and conservation management fields for more than 25 years. He currently serves as a Council Member to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, appointed by Oregon Governor Kate Brown.

Sams has held a variety of roles with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, most recently as their executive director. He has also had roles as the president/chief executive officer of the Indian Country Conservancy, executive director for the Umatilla Tribal Community Foundation, national director of the Tribal & Native Lands Program for the Trust for Public Land, executive director for the Columbia Slough Watershed Council, executive director for the Community Energy Project, and president/CEO for the Earth Conservation Corps.

Sams holds a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration from Concordia University-Portland and a master’s of legal studies in Indigenous Peoples Law from the University of Oklahoma. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.