James Hill has been named the new superintendent for the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Courtesy photo

James Hill has been named the new superintendent for the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

He will not only lead Bighorn Canyon, but the entire Powder River group of parks, which includes Devils Tower National Monument, Fort Laramie National Historic Site and Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument.

Hill most recently served as the superintendent of Guilford Courthouse National Military Park in North Carolina and will assume his new role on July 18. 

“I’m honored and excited to join the amazing team of employees, partners, neighbors and nations who care for Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area,” Hill said in a statement. “Together with the talented teams of the Powder River Group, we’re privileged to be stewards of such an incredible collection of cultural, natural, and recreational resources.”

National Park Service Regional Director Mike Reynolds announced Hill’s selection on Tuesday. 

“We are thrilled to welcome James [Hill] to the team,” Reynolds said in a statement. “He has worked in many cultural resource management positions inside and outside of the National Park Service. His extensive experience in collaborative park management, along with his calm demeanor and commitment to teamwork make him a great fit for Bighorn Canyon and the Powder River group.”

Prior to his position at Guilford Courthouse, Hill served as the superintendent at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in Nebraska for 10 years. Hill is also familiar with Powder River country, having completed two details as acting superintendent at Fort Laramie National Historic Site in 2013 and in 2019.

“My wife and I are eager to return to the High Plains and Mountain West to explore and learn more about the stories, places, and people who call it home,” he said.

Prior to becoming a superintendent, Hill served as the Midwest Region program manager for the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, where he practiced civic engagement and worked with numerous community partners to empower and elevate stories of those historically excluded from the national narrative. He also worked at Badlands National Park in South Dakota, Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska, Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Illinois and Fort Scott National Historic Site in Kansas. He also has federal and private sector experience working as a historian.

Hill received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from the University of South Carolina. He replaces former Bighorn Canyon Superintendent Mike Tranel, who left in February to become the deputy superintendent at Yellowstone National Park. Tranel had served in the post since May 2018.