Charles F. “Chuck” Sams III was ceremonially sworn in as director of the National Park Service (NPS) by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Sams is the first Tribal citizen to lead the agency, which has been without a Senate-confirmed leader for nearly five years.
“Chuck Sams understands the importance of connecting people to nature, and I am thrilled to work with him as the Interior Department works to make our national park system accessible to all Americans,” Haaland said. “Under his leadership, the National Park Service will continue to protect our public lands for generations to come and make critical investments in the vast infrastructure that sustains our public lands and national parks.”
The RVIA congratulated Sams on his position.
“We are excited to work with you and the National Park Service going forward,” the Association said in a social media statement.
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable echoed the congratulations.
“We look forward to working together to ensure all Americans have access to outdoor recreation on their public lands and waters,” the Roundtable said.
Sams thanked President Joe Biden and Haaland for appointing him, calling the National Park System one of America’s greatest gifts.
“I am also incredibly proud to work with the dedicated employees of the National Park Service,” Sams said. “I have no doubt that together, we will be able to expand access to the outdoors, protect America’s public lands, and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure system through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
In his capacity overseeing the NPS, Chuck will help implement the Great American Outdoors Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The infrastructure law provides for a five-year reauthorization of the Federal Lands Transportation Program, which will help invest in repairing and upgrading NPS roads, bridges, trails and transit systems. The law also invests in projects that will help fund bridge replacements and resiliency, repair ferry boats and terminal facilities, and maintain wildlife crossings that keep people and surrounding wildlife safe.
Sams has worked in state and Tribal governments and the non-profit natural resource and conservation management fields for more than 25 years. He most recently served as a Council Member to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, appointed by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.
He held various roles with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, most recently serving as executive director. Sams holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Concordia University-Portland and a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous peoples law from the University of Oklahoma. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Sams is an enrolled member, Cayuse and Walla Walla, of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, where he lives with his wife and their four children.
