Meet Craig, the park's interim superintendent!

What does it mean to be interim superintendent of Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA)?

I get the opportunity to work at MNRRA and learn from the park’s incredible work in collaboration with Mississippi Park Connection. I’m most interested in what this urban park does to engage the community and how we protect the river in partnership with landowners.

I am currently in a 120-day temporary detail as superintendent of MNRRA. This is typical in the National Park Service (NPS) during times of transition. During this time, I’m responsible for anything a permanent superintendent would be, from running day-to-day operations to providing input on longer term strategies.

You are also superintendent of Grand Portage National Monument. What can you tell us about your time there and your career with NPS so far?

I started my career with the federal government as a summer park ranger working for the Army Corps of Engineers at Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. It has been fun to return to the lock and dam 20 years later as superintendent. That job helped me land my first NPS job at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in North Dakota. In my years at Knife River I was the education specialist and eventually superintendent.

Four years ago, I became the superintendent at Grand Portage National Monument. My time at Grand Portage has been wonderful. Grand Portage is one of only a few NPS sites that co-manages with their Tribal partner. Grand Portage has been doing this formally for more than 20 years. Becoming part of this has been a career highlight for me. Managing the park alongside our Tribal counterparts, the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, has made Grand Portage a wonderful site to visit along the Minnesota North Shore. Located in the heart of the Grand Portage community, the Heritage Center and reconstructed Fur Trade Depot are enriched by community relationships that share the rich history, culture, and lifeways of the Grand Portage people.

What do you hope to accomplish during your time here at MNRRA?

Last year the park started to work with the newly formed Tribal Leaders Taskforce to help with tribal consultation duties. I hope to bring my experience working with tribes to improve our restoration work and interpretation at Coldwater Spring.

The park community is full of wonderful and talented people. It’s been an honor to start to get to know some of them. Former Superintendent John Anfinson was here for a long time, and very embedded in all things on the Mississippi River. My goal is to make sure that many of the things he worked so hard on stay a priority until a new superintendent is selected.

What are your favorite hobbies or outdoor activities?

I grew up hunting and fishing in North Dakota. I enjoy running, and now hiking on the North Shore. I enjoy working out in our home garage gym – not so much in the hotel fitness center.

What are your favorite parks along the river?

I’ve been to Crosby Farm Regional Park multiple times during my first month here. I have found the trails a great place to get out and run. Spending time at Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam during Illuminate the Lock: Madweyaashkaa was terrific. It was amazing to see the NPS, MPC and other partners in action provide such a high quality event for the public and do it in a way that followed COVID-19 guidance, making the necessary mitigations to make this great event safe.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I am a fan of the MN Vikings and the MN Twins. I can’t wait to be able to go to a game again. I enjoy listening to music, whether that be on my phone, TV or record player. I have recently enjoyed watching my 16-year-old son explore my record collection. All of a sudden those old records are not that lame. He is an extremely intelligent person, and I knew he’d catch on. My 13-year-old daughter is one of the most entertaining, funny, and creative people I know. She can make anything on a whim with random supplies. My wife is pretty cool; she’s supportive and wonderful.