Karl Merchant, contracting officer at Delaware Water Gap NRA, has announced his retirement after 32 years of NPS service. 

He began his career as a seasonal interpreter at the Birthplace of William Howard Taft, where he received the Midwest Region’s Freeman Tilden Award.  He then transferred to the protection division, where he worked for 28 years – first at Shenandoah National Park, then at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. For the past five years, he has served as a contract officer for the park and Northeast Region. 

Along the way, Karl worked as an interagency crew boss and planning section chief for the Northeast Region Type II All Risk Team. 

Arrangements for the celebration will be on hold until after pending medical treatments are completed.