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Home » Senate Committee Schedules October 19 Confirmation Hearing For Sams As NPS Director

Senate Committee Schedules October 19 Confirmation Hearing For Sams As NPS Director

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Published Date

October 11, 2021

A confirmation for Charles F. Sams III to be the director of the National Park Service has been set for October 19.

Charles F. Sams' confirmation hearing for National Park Service director has been scheduled for October 19 by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

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, and if confirmed by the full Senate would be the first permanent director the Park Service has had since Jonathan Jarvis retired at the end of the Obama administration.

The nominee has 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.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland has called Sams "an incredible asset as we work to conserve and protect our national parks to make them more accessible for everyone."

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Comments

Submitted by Rick B. on October 11, 2021 - 5:11pm.

The NPS is long overdue for this issue to be successfully completed.


Submitted by Harryb3570 on October 12, 2021 - 4:03pm.

Lets hope  he has the qualifications and skills to be Director. 


Submitted by George H. on October 13, 2021 - 3:18pm.

LOL did you read the article you just commented on? 


Submitted by Harryb3570 on October 14, 2021 - 5:49pm.

Yes, I still am not convinced he has the qualifications and skills to be the Director of the nps. Time will tell.


Submitted by Bill on October 15, 2021 - 2:21pm.

Harry, share your concerns.  His experience is very limited.  I've looked up the organizations and they are very small. The confederated tribe has about 3000 enrolled members, with less than 1/2 living on the reservation.  This is really small town city manager level experience.  What I am praying for is that he has the leadership ability to provide the guidance and direction that the NPS needs moving forward.  The NPS has no lack of skilled professionals and managers at all levels to take care of day-to-day operations.  What it needs is a leader. As you have said.  Time will tell.


Submitted by Ross S. on October 19, 2021 - 10:22am.

This guy is and has always been a tremendous leader.  He's a good listener.  He has strong organization skills.  He motivates and believes in people.  And he has excellent experience bridging the Republican/Democrat divide to move projects forward.  (Yes, I've known him a long time).  One of the few people about whom I would have no reservations whatsoever.  This is the right guy and someone who I think would also be excellent for the development of other people working in the NPS system.  


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