May 29, 2019
Honorable Lisa Murkowski
Chairman
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Madam Chairman:
We, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, write this letter in support of Rob Wallace for the position of Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. The Coalition is largely comprised of retired National Park Service employees with over 1,700 members and roughly 40,000 years of experience leading and working in the National Park Service. The Coalition studies, educates, speaks, and acts for the preservation and protection of the National Park System and mission-related programs of the National Park Service.
Rob Wallace has had a distinguished career. After graduating with a degree in engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, Rob became a ranger in Grand Teton National Park and eventually was appointed assistant director for legislative and congressional affairs of the National Park Service in Washington, DC.
From there Rob went on to serve as chief of staff to Wyoming U.S. Senator Malcolm Wallop, staff director for the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, and chief of staff to Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer.
Altogether, Mr. Wallace would bring 45 years of experience, having served in the National Park Service, on Capitol Hill, and in the private sector. Rob would bring a blend of experience that would serve the country well as he understands how both the public and private sectors work. His experience while serving as head of legislative and congressional affairs for the NPS and as chief of staff for Senator Malcolm Wallop provides him with an important perspective as he provides oversight and direction to Interior agencies such as the National Park Service, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. His experience gives Mr. Wallace credibility and institutional memory vitally needed at this time. For these reasons, we support Mr. Wallace’s nomination for Assistant Secretary and hope that he will be quickly confirmed.
Thank you for your consideration.
Philip A. Francis
Chair, Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
Cc: Ranking Member Honorable Joe Manchin