From left to right: Chief Ranger Kristen Woodruff, Law Enforcement Specialist John Privette and Safety Consultant Jenn Steele
Two state parks veterans were promoted, and a new staff member has joined the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation's operations section. Kristen Woodruff has been named as the parks chief ranger and John Privette as the law enforcement specialist, while the division recently welcomed Jenn Steele as the safety consultant.
Woodruff succeeds Keith Nealson, who was named as a superintendent at Kerr Lake State Recreation Area earlier this month. As the new chief ranger, Woodruff leads all division investigations, oversees incident response, and ensures enforcement of North Carolina laws and state parks rules. She also plays a huge role in operational policies, risk management, field staff training, and equipment procurement.
Woodruff most recently served as the north district superintendent. She grew up near Spring Lake, NC, and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington with a bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management. Woodruff worked as a seasonal employee at Carolina Beach State Park and Falls Lake State Recreation Area, before joining the division as a ranger at William B. Umstead State Park. After a stint as a ranger at Goose Creek State Park, she was promoted to park superintendent at Raven Rock State Park, later transferring as superintendent to Singletary Lake State Park and then to Falls Lake.
Woodruff's nearly 20-year career highlights her breadth of experience, wide skills set, and exemplary work ethic. She holds certifications in advanced law enforcement, public agency supervision, and environmental education. She has trained in various aspects of law enforcement, including combat tactics and martial arts techniques. She has served as a specialized law enforcement instructor for the division and in her spare time, has also taught law enforcement classes at Wake Technical Community College.
"The chief ranger guides all of our park rangers, not just in law enforcement but also in natural resource management, education, visitor and staff safety, and public interaction," said Brian Strong, state parks director. "We can't ask for a better person to fill that role than someone like Kristen who has risen through the ranks from a seasonal employee and proven herself as a well-rounded leader and dedicated public servant."
Serving alongside the chief ranger is the law enforcement specialist, who helps oversee the public safety arm of the division. The specialist manages training for all state parks in law enforcement, search and rescue, and emergency response. John Privette now filled this important role, following the retirement of Christopher Fox.
Like Woodruff, Privette started as a seasonal employee at Carolina Beach State Park, before becoming a ranger at Lumber River State Park and later at Jones Lake State Park. He most recently served as the park superintendent at Raven Rock State Park. He graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor's degree in recreation management. He holds an advanced law enforcement certification and has served as a law enforcement instructor for the division.
"Kristen's and John's many decades of field experience will help us maintain the highest standards when it comes to law enforcement training and operational response," said Kathy Capps, deputy director of operations. "They are both well-regarded by state parks staff, and we look forward to seeing them shape these vital roles together."
Rounding out the new additions to the operations section is Jenn Steele, who has joined the division as the safety consultant, coming from a similar role with the City of Raleigh. Steele has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has previously worked in parks and recreation, including summer camp programming, field trips, environmental education, and park operations. She has trained in and holds safety certifications from the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and the North Carolina Department of Labor.
The division's safety consultant works with the safety director of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Steele will conduct inspections at all work sites, lead work safety investigations, and assess staff needs in training and compliance. She also helps manage emergency medical response in the division.
"Public and staff safety is one of the most essential responsibilities of the division," said Director Strong. "Having the right people serving these roles is the first step towards continued success in that regard. We are fortunate to have the wealth of knowledge and experience that Kristen, John, and Jenn bring to our operations team."