Last updated: June 17, 2020
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Lisa Turecek, Chief, Facility Management at Olympic National Park, Washington
What does your job involve? As a park facility manager, I'm basically Director of Public Works for the park. That responsibility entails all built infrastructure in the park--roads, buildings, trails, utilities, they all need to be maintained to support the National Park Service (NPS) mission.
How did you get into the engineering industry? I graduated with an engineering degree but had worked seasonally at parks in non-engineering jobs. I found NPS as a way to blend my passion for parks with engineering. As a result, my career thus far has only been with NPS.
What do you think is the best thing about a career in engineering? I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing tangible results. Facilities allow me to see results such as improved/maintained facilities; access; energy improvements; and sustainability. Within the NPS, facilities is one of the facets that allows parks to adapt to changing needs and constraints with a constant focus on our mission.
What are you most proud of? Retrofitting exterior lights at Big Bend National Park in Texas to reduce light pollution and energy while actually improving lighting levels. Big Bend National Park was the first International Dark Sky Park. Meaning, it is a land possessing an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights and a nocturnal environment that is specifically protected for its scientific, natural, educational, cultural heritage, and/or public enjoyment.
What are the career benefits of working for the National Park Service? A great mission gives a sense of purpose to my work. Also, public sector work allows for more work-life balance.
What would your advice be to someone interested in an engineering role at the National Park Service? The work we do is very important and the process to getting a job with NPS can take some time. Be patient with the process, you’ll be grateful for having done so once you are part of the NPS family.