Since the departure of Kayci Cook to Mesa Verde NP in August, the leadership of the Flagstaff Area National Monuments was first taken on by our very own Chief of Interpretation, Richard Ullmann. When his tenure as acting superintendent ended, Kristofer “Kris” Butcher from Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument and Freedom Riders National Monument in Alabama arrived to share his expertise.
Kris has had a varied career in several federal agencies, including the Small Business Administration and the US Forest Service, before starting with the NPS in 2017. When his career took him to Birmingham, he didn’t even have an office and had been building the program from scratch.
An acting detail is an opportunity for an employee to diversify their work experience and provide valuable developmental opportunities. These typically last between 60 – 120 days. Kris writes that “he had to apply and interview for this detail just like any other position in the National Park Service. There are too many amazing things to list about the Flagstaff Area Monuments to list. So, let’s just say that whatever is your favorite thing about the monuments is on my list too and one of the reasons I applied for this opportunity.”
Kris will be here until mid-January and will assist in smoothing the transition to new leadership. A new superintendent should be announced soon so stay tuned.
Saying Farewell to a Friend