Kym Hall (Photo courtesy National Park Service)
Colonial National Historical Park, the sprawling federal park site encompassing several Historic Triangle landmarks, has a new leader following the retirement of Dan Smith at the end of last year.
Kym Hall has taken over the superintendent job, leaving her in charge of the park, which includes the Yorktown battlefields, Jamestown Island, the Cape Henry Memorial, the Colonial Parkway and Green Spring Plantation.
She replaces Dan Smith, who retired in 2014 after 10 years as the park’s top official.
CNHP is owned and operated by the National Park Service. Hall has spent 28 years with NPS, with recent assignments including acting superintendent of Glacier National Park in Montana and acting superintendent of parks in the Outer Banks.
“I am honored to have been selected to serve as the Superintendent. Many years ago I visited the park on a family vacation and knew that I wanted to work there one day,” Hall said in an NPS news release. “… I believe that we need to empower, challenge and encourage employees to accomplish great things. Once we do that, we can engage, collaborate and serve the public in exciting new ways.”
Hall began her career with NPS at Olympic National Park in Washington State. She then transferred to NPS headquarters in Washington, D.C., where she worked on regulations for the agency including rules for how Yellowstone National Park may be used during the winter, personal watercraft regulations and off-road vehicle regulations.
During her stint in the D.C. office, she was promoted to special assistant to the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. She represented NPS on land use issues, concessions contracts and weapons in parks while serving in that role.
Hall was appointed to her new position by NPS Northeast Regional Director Mike Caldwell.
“We’re very excited about the tremendous experience and leadership skills that Kym brings to Colonial National Historical Park. Her extensive background and passion for working collaboratively will serve her well as she energizes and expands the park’s partnerships,” Caldwell said in the release.
Hall is a graduate of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government Senior Executive Fellows Program. She has three sons.