Topics Related to Office of the Director

State Parks Director Brian Strong provides additional information on post-Helene rescue and recovery efforts and the status of western state parks.

Brian Strong, a 23-year veteran of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, has been named director of the division by the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources."Our state parks are an unparalleled resource that preserve North Carolina's natural beauty for future generations while making our communities even better places to visit and call home," said Governor Roy Cooper. "Brian Strong is a proven leader who has shown his commitment to making North Carolina's state parks even strong and I'm confident he will serve our state well."

Patterson, the first African American director for the Division, will depart early next year.

Dwayne Patterson will return to N.C. DNCR as director of Division of Parks and Recreation beginning Feb. 1. Patterson was on temporary assignment as Deputy Director/Chief Operating Officer for the N.C. Pandemic Recovery Office since May of this year.