My Park Story: Dexter Armstrong

Park Ranger Dexter Armstrong

Photo Courtesy of Kandace Armstrong

National Park Ranger Dexter Armstrong speaks at the 2024 National Christmas Tree Lighting Dec. 5, at the White House and President’s Park.

NPS Photo/Graczyk

Have you ever had a moment where everything just clicked— where you knew you were right where you belonged? For Dexter Armstrong, the 2024 featured ranger for the main show of the National Christmas Tree Lighting, that moment came when he discovered the mission of the National Park Service.

Dexter is the North District supervisory ranger for interpretation at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. His journey with the NPS began unexpectedly during his junior year at Tuskegee University, when a job recruitment trip took him to Channel Islands National Park. Until that visit, he had not known much about public lands, but he fell in love with the idea of protecting and sharing these treasured spaces.

As a student studying animal science and planning to become a veterinarian, Dexter was astonished to learn that his university, the historic Tuskegee University, is part of a National Park Service site — Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site. Reflecting on his college experience, Dexter shared:

“I still get emotional thinking about graduating college. Not because of the degree or because I went to the greatest HBCU in the land, but because I know where I come from. I still remember getting my acceptance letter from Tuskegee and thinking, ‘How is my mama going to pay for this?’ My estimated family contribution was zero. To say I’m a college graduate is nothing but a blessing.”

Born in Charlotte, North Carolina, Dexter’s first flight and trip to California for the NPS recruitment event opened his world to new possibilities. Determined to make meaningful connections and leave a positive impact, he applied for seasonal work at Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2011 and 2012 while still in college. That decision sparked a career spanning more than a decade, with roles at several iconic parks, including:

• Theodore Roosevelt National Park
• Cape Hatteras National Seashore
• Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park
• Denali National Park and Preserve
• Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument, where he served as acting superintendent.

Today, Dexter is back at Great Smoky Mountains National Park, where his career began as a GS-4 park guide. Now leading the North District, he calls it a full-circle moment:

“Just the other day I saw a volunteer I met during my seasonal time at the park. After 24 years of volunteering, he still remembered me. He is now 85 years old. When he saw me, he turned to someone else and with a smile, said, ‘That’s Dexter.’"

He is thankful for his mentor, Enimini Ekong, who has provided guidance, insight, and a listening ear, while also challenging thoughts, provoking questions, and genuinely caring about who he is. Others have invested in him, and he strives to do the same for them. Everything he does is done with intention. Dexter’s advice for those not sure whether to take on a leadership role is, that instead of wondering if you are good enough and can do the work, he challenges you to ask yourself, “what if I’m amazing at it and I excel in the role? What if you make something better? What if you surpass the expectation of you?”

Dexter’s story is one of inspiration, gratitude and purpose — a reminder that when we lead with intention and believe in ourselves, the possibilities are endless.