Karen Bradford to step in for several months while a permanent replacement for outgoing superintendent Diane Chung is hired.
Karen Bradford, a 25-year Park Service veteran, will take charge of Katmai as current superintendent Diane Chung departs. Bradford will hold the role for about four months, until a new permanent superintendent is hired.
Bradford hails from Tennessee, and began with the Park Service back in 1991. She’ll be stepping in as superintendent during one of Alaska’s busiest parks during its peak time of the year, with a few dozen seasonal employees and tens of thousands of bear viewers and fishermen. National Park Service spokesman John Quinley said the Katmai post isn’t a relaxed one this time of year.
“Certainly in July it’s a busy place, and challenging. Your headquarters is in King Salmon, much of the activity is at Brooks Camp or out at the Katmai coast, and it’s not easy to communicate or get between those three places.”
Quinley said it can take a while for the federal government to fill positions on a permanent basis, and the Katmai superintendent role is no exception.
“The Katmai superintendent job has been advertised,” Quinley said. “We have candidates for it, but between the interview process and selection and someone leaving whatever job they’re in and moving to Alaska takes a while.”
Chung held the post since early 2013, and is taking a job with the US Forest Service in Oregon. The Park Service expects to have a permanent Katmai superintendent in place this fall.