Demarest, David - Wildlife and Fisheries Biological Science Technician
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science - Ferrum College
Mr. Demarest has worked for the Natural Resources Branch of Shenandoah National Park since 1991. His duties include assisting the monitoring of flora and fauna as a lead technician and upkeep of monitoring equipment for those tasks. Special focus is on aquatic communities with specialized skills in electroshocking and fish identification and leading the yearly aquatic macroinvertebrate monitoring. Mr. Demarest also is lead assistant for capture and immobilization of nuisance/beggar wildlife within the park.
Garcia, Elizabeth - Air and Waters Quality Monitoring Technician
Bachelor of Arts - Environmental Studies - Green Mountain College
Masters of Professional Studies - Recreation and Resource Management - SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Ms. Garcia has worked with the National Park Service at Shenandoah since 2000. Her first season was as a Student Conservation Associate (SCA). She has held many Seasonal Biological Technician positions in various fields including Backcountry and Wilderness Management, Fire Effects Monitoring, Resource Management and Forest Health. In, 2004, she was hired to operate the parks air quality monitoring site, and a few years later water quality monitoring duties were incorporated.
Hughes, Jacob (Jake) - Biologist (Invasive Plants and Restoration)
Bachelor of Science - University of Maryland - College Park
Mr.Hughes joined the resource management staff in 2005. Previous assignments include work in vegetation management at Rock Creek Park (NPS) in Washington, D.C., and horticulture at the National Arboretum. At Shenandoah he manages the Park invasive plant management program. His primary duties include supervising seasonal weed crews and volunteers, and managing a fledgling native plant propagation and restoration program.
Paull, Stephen J. - Vegetation Monitoring Biological Science Technician
Bachelor of Science - Mechanical Engineering - University of Maryland, College Park
Master of Science - Environmental Science & Policy - George Mason University
Mr. Paull joined the resource staff as Lead Biological Science Technician for the vegetation monitoring program in 2016. He is responsible for supervision of summer field crews, data and collections processing, and equipment maintenance. He has worked at Shenandoah National Park since 2008 in other roles, including Rock Outcrop Management Plan (ROMP) Coordinator, Lead Fire Effects Monitor, and seasonal botany crew member. As a wildland firefighter, he provides support during wildfires and controlled burning projects.
Smith, Sandra - Park Geographic Information System (GIS) specialist.
Williams, Alan - Ecologist and Data Manager
Bachelor of Science - Biology - Earlham College
Master of Science - Forest Resources - University of Georgia
Mr. Williams started as Ecologist/Data Manager for the Natural and Cultural Resources Division at Shenandoah National Park in July 2000. He works with the resource specialists to manage their data for immediate and future use. Projects he helps with include; water quality, aquatic invertebrate monitoring, native trout monitoring, non-native plant monitoring, forest health, rare plant monitoring, and Peregrine Falcon restoration. Alan regularly collaborates with the park GIS coordinator on a variety of mapping projects. He also is a member of the parks technical rescue team and wildfire fighting crew.
