Duane Bubac

Duane Bubac has been named as the new chief of facility management and operations for Yellowstone National Park.

Bubac is an 18-year veteran of the National Park Service and is currently the associate regional director for facilities and infrastructure in the NPS Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, Nebraska. Bubac had been serving as the acting facilities chief at Yellowstone since March.

The Facility Management and Operations Division is responsible for all park infrastructure including 300 miles of roads, buildings, boardwalks, and water and wastewater systems. As Chief of Facility Management and Operations, Bubac will oversee approximately $30 million annually and supervise a staff of 300 employees from varying disciplines related to design, engineering, construction, and facility operations.

“Duane [Bubac] has a demonstrated track record of high performance, problem solving and collaboration at all levels within the organization,” Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said in announcing the hire. “He is the right leader to help this team continue making substantial progress in Yellowstone’s major priority areas, like reducing deferred maintenance and improving employee housing.” 

During his time in Omaha — where he worked with Sholly — Bubac restructured the region’s facility management team, improved engagement with the region’s 61 parks, and helped substantially reduce deferred maintenance in many areas of the region, Yellowstone officials said in a news release. 

Previously, Bubac held a variety of other key leadership positions, including serving as superintendent at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, chief of cultural resources and facility management at Mount Rushmore National Memorial and acting superintendent assignments at Mount Rushmore and George Washington Carver.

Bubac described himself as “honored and humbled” to be tabbed for the new post.

“Yellowstone National Park has an outstanding team with limitless talent, dedication, and professionalism,” he said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the work they’ve started to further the park’s strategic priorities, especially related to improving infrastructure.”

Bubac spent 20 years in the United States Air Force before joining the National Park Service. He has a master’s degree in aeronautical sciences with concentrations in process engineering, systems management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and a bachelor’s in human resource management from Saint Leo University, also in Florida.

Bubac said he enjoys spending time with family, hiking, fishing, working on vintage cars and riding his Harley.