Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela has been nominated to be the next director of the National Park Service/NPS

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela was nominated Friday by President Trump to take the helm of the National Park Service, which has been without a permanent director since Jon Jarvis retired in January 2017 at the end of the Obama administration.

The nomination, rumored to be in the works since early July, would not only fill that void if Vela is confirmed by the Senate, but for the first time place a Hispanic in the top job at the Park Service.

“David Vela has demonstrated all of the ideals that the National Park Service stands for, and his long track record of leadership on behalf of the people and places of the National Park Service distinguish him as the right man for the job,” said Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke in a prepared statement. “Our extraordinary national parks will be in the best of hands with David at the helm.”

Vela came to Grand Teton in 2014 from Washington, D.C., where he worked as the Park Service's associate director for Workforce, Relevancy and Inclusion. He oversaw NPS programs including Human Resources, Learning and Development, Equal Opportunity, Youth, and the Office of Relevancy, Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to that, he was director of the agency's Southeast Region based in Atlanta.

“I am deeply humbled by the president's nomination to serve as the 19th director of the National Park Service, and if confirmed, I look forward to working with Secretary Zinke to address the NPS maintenance backlog, protect our national treasures, and serve all who come to enjoy the parks,” Vela said. “Having worn the uniform of the National Park Service for more than 28 years, I greatly value all that it represents and the importance of ensuring that we build a next generation workforce that is ready to take on the challenges and opportunities facing our agency.”

The nomination was applauded by members of Congress, Wyoming's governor, and the president and CEO of the National Park Foundation.

“Few people have the knowledge, passion and appreciation for our amazing national parks as David Vela,” said Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead. “He has been a good partner to Wyoming and an effective leader at Grand Teton National Park. I am excited to see his name move forward. National parks will be in great hands with David at the helm.”

If confirmed, Vela will take the reins of an agency that has been struggling with a deferred maintenance backlog of nearly $12 billion, and low morale among a workforce that has grappled with sexual harassment issues, low pay, work-life balance inequity, concerns over leadership, and concerns around strategic management, according to the 2017 Best Places To Work survey.

“David Vela understands the challenges facing our national parks and the power of working with partners to address them,” said Will Shafroth, head of the National Park Foundation. “His strong, inclusive and deft leadership will effectively serve these places where Americans come together to appreciate our sacred landscapes and shared history.”

At the National Parks Conservation Association, President and CEO Theresa Pierno said she looked forward to working with Vela as director.

"As director, Vela must uphold the Park Service’s mission to protect and keep unimpaired our most incredible resources – natural, cultural and historic – for future generations to experience and enjoy," she said. "During his tenure with the Park Service, Vela has established a robust program to train the next generation of park leaders prioritizing inclusion and diverse partnerships. Vela is a problem solver and is poised to take on many obstacles facing our parks as director, including threats from development, air and water pollution, climate change and record visitation. One of the more difficult challenges will be addressing an already underfunded National Park Service and its nearly $12 billion in needed repairs."

Also applauding the nomination was Larry Rockefeller, grandson of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and son of Laurance S. Rockefeller, both large figures in the national parks movement dating back to the early 1900s.

"As grand as the Tetons, the history-making choice of David Vela to become director of the National Park Service is a nationally unifying one, which all Americans can praise," Rockefeller said. "In that spirit, I sense the delight of my late grandfather, John D. Rockefeller, Jr, and father, Laurance S. Rockefeller, that our extraordinary national parks legacy will be upheld by Director Vela, for all present and future generations."

While at Grand Teton, the superintendent had a strong ally in the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, which raised many millions of dollars to help acquire lands for the park and to restore the weary trail system above Jenny Lake.

"Over the past five years, while he has served as superintendent of Grand Teton National Park, David Vela has been a wonderful partner," said Leslie Mattson, president of the foundation. "We have a model public/private partnership and have worked together to execute many important projects in Grand Teton. He is an extraordinary leader whose passion and commitment will ensure his success as the next director of the National Park Service."