The current chief ranger at Saguaro National Park in Arizona has been selected as new chief ranger for Glacier National Park. Paul Austin will begin his new duties in mid-December.

As chief ranger, Austin will be a member of Glacier Park’s leadership team and have management responsibility for the visitor and resource protection division. He will oversee the law enforcement, fees, special uses, fire, trails, backcountry, stock and dispatch programs.

Austin has ties to Glacier Park — his mother and grandfather worked at the Many Glacier Hotel, and Austin worked as a student conservation association intern in the Belly River area the summer of 1995 and as a backcountry ranger stationed at St. Mary in 1997.

After landing a job teaching middle school science, Austin continued to work summers at different locations for the National Park Service.

He worked seasonally at Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Yosemite national parks. He landed a permanent position in Yosemite and then continued his Park Service his career at Grand Canyon and Saguaro national parks.  

Austin grew up outside of Seattle, Wash. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in chemistry and attended Western Washington University, where he earned a master’s in education.

Austin says he’s proud to continue his family tradition and to bring the fourth generation of his family to Glacier Park.

Austin and his wife have two young sons, ages 9 and 6. He says they’re looking forward to the many outdoor activities throughout the seasons in Northwest Montana, including camping, mountain biking, skiing and climbing.

He and his wife participate in triathlons and Ironman competitions.