Department of Conservation and Recreation
Conserve. Protect. Enjoy.
Department of Conservation and Recreation
Frank Stovall, former deputy executive director at the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation in Williamsburg, recently joined the Department of Conservation and Recreation as its new deputy director of operations.
His responsibilities include managing several divisions and offices of DCR, the state’s lead natural resource conservation agency. These include Virginia State Parks, Natural Heritage Program, Planning and Recreation Resources and Land Conservation. The previous deputy director of operations, Tom Smith, retired on Jan. 1.
“The important work that DCR performs — protecting our state’s biodiversity, empowering people to protect land and resources, and preserving the places that really define our Commonwealth — is critical to the future of our state and the quality of life of future generations,” Stovall said. “I'm excited to be joining the dedicated and skilled team at DCR.”
Born and Grew Up: Outside Martinsville, Virginia. His family’s annual outings to the Blue Ridge Parkway sparked an early interest in parks and public lands.
Education: Undergraduate history degree; graduate education degree, both from Virginia Tech; master’s in public administration from Clemson University.
South Carolina State Park Service: Helped to open a new state park to the public and to build partnerships between state and federal agencies and private groups.
City of Clinton, South Carolina: Assistant City Manager, City Manager. Worked with local, state, and federal officials to lead a financial restructuring, improve public safety and enhance economic, educational and recreational opportunities for citizens.
Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation: Since 2017 until joining DCR, was Deputy Executive Director at the state agency responsible for managing two nationally accredited museums: Jamestown Settlement and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Why he (now) listens to park rangers: “On one memorable Blue Ridge Parkway outing, before I was 10 years old, we completely ignored the sage advice of a park ranger and started a long hike much too late in the day. We spent several hours lost on a maze of backcountry trails in the complete darkness of a chilly mountain night. Reading trail signs at night without a flashlight is nearly impossible.
“That’s probably when the seed of an idea of a parks and conservation career took hold in me — and I also learned to never, ever discount the advice of a park ranger.”
Categories
Land Conservation | Natural Heritage | Recreation Planning | State Parks
