Park Service welcomes two new staff members

The National Park Service’s Outer Banks Group has welcomed two new staff members this spring.

Daniel “Boone” Vandzura is currently serving as the acting chief ranger for the Outer Banks Group — Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site and Wright Brothers National Memorial. 

Boone, as his peer coworkers have nicknamed him over the years, is the supervisor of the Visitor & Resource Protection division for all three parks.  Previously, Boone has worked in Yellowstone National Park.  He has held many detail assignments, the last being the emergency services director within the chief ranger’s office in Yellowstone. 

Boone is originally from Pennsylvania and vacationed in northern North Carolina as a youth.  He is excited to be back in North Carolina and closer to his family.  He looks forward to working with park staff and communities that are the neighbors of the Outer Banks Group of national parks.

Michelle Havens serves as the new chief of resource management for the Outer Banks Group. 

Michelle grew up on the beaches and shores of the Texas Gulf Coast, where fishing and camping with her family led to a career in natural resources for the National Park Service.  Michelle received her master’s and bachelor of science degrees from Texas A&M University — Corpus Christi and has since studied and worked in coastal ecosystems and shorebirds. 

She comes to the Outer Banks Group from Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California.  Being a watersports lover, she missed the coastal communities and she enjoys kayaking, fishing, birdwatching, eating southern homecooking, and spending time on the beach.  Michelle says, “It feels good to be back at a seashore!”