Outer Banks Chief Ranger Paul Stevens will retire on Feb. 27

After 30 years with the National Park Service, Paul Stevens, chief ranger with the Outer Banks Group, will retire on Feb. 27. 

Stevens, a long-time resident and Outer Banks Group employee, transferred to Cape Hatteras National Seashore in 1988.  He served in other parks including an internship at Cape Lookout National Seashore, as a park technician at Moores Creek National Battlefield  and Congaree National Park, before transferring to the Outer Banks Group national parks to live and work. 

As a youth, Stevens spent every summer with his family vacationing on the Outer Banks.  After graduating from East Carolina University, he began his career with the North Carolina State Parks system at Fort Fisher State Recreation Area and Bald Head Island State Natural Area as a park ranger.  Paul’s first permanent assignment with the NPS was at Moores Creek National Battlefield. 

For the past 10 years, Stevens has served as an active member of the National Type I and II Incident Management Teams (IMT).  He served on these Inter-agency Teams for many nationally significant events and natural disasters, such as the recent Rim Fire in Yosemite National Park in 2012 and the Chiwaukum Complex Fires in Washington state in 2014.  In 2009, Paul received NPS Southeast Region Harry Yount Park Ranger Award, a peer-nominated honor, named after the first known national park ranger.  The award recognizes excellence in the field of “rangering.”

In addition to his many contributions to the Service, at home on the Outer Banks, Stevens served as a vital key liaison with the Dare County Emergency Management Control Group for 18 years.  The Emergency Management Task Force consists of representatives from multiple agencies and organizations that respond to hurricane or storm evacuations and recoveries that affect residents and visitors of the barrier islands communities and parklands. 

“Paul’s remarkable career has been filled with many accomplishments and accolades.  Paul is known throughout the Park Service and to local Dare County law enforcement agencies as an outstanding and reputable chief ranger.  The Outer Banks Group has truly benefitted from his experience and hard work the past 26 years.  On behalf of his many Park Service colleagues, we wish Paul well in his retirement,” stated Superintendent Dave Hallac.

After retirement, Stevens will make his home in Nags Head and plans to continue his service on the IMT for the next several years.  Paul said that “All park rangers have their personal list of favorite parks they wish to serve during their employment.  I am so blessed that the Outer Banks Group was one of the favorites on my list.”