Mount Rainier superintendent retiring; interim replacement named

Tracy Swartout has been named acting superintendent for Mount Rainier National Park, effective Jan. 8.  She will replace superintendent Randy King, who will retire in January following a career of more than 40 years with the National Park Service, including the last 14 at Mount Rainier.

Swartout, the park’s deputy superintendent the past five years, will serve as acting superintendent until a formal appointment to replace King is announced by the Park Service.

In addition to working as Mount Rainier, Swartout has Park Service stints throughout her 18-year career in Utah, Washington, D.C., and South Carolina. At the latter, she was superintendent of Congaree National Park.

Swartout received a bachelor degree in environmental geography from the University of South Carolina and a master’s degree in natural resource management from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She also completed postgraduate work at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s graduate school.

“I'm looking forward to carrying on the good work at Mount Rainier and supporting the park’s dedicated staff, our affiliated tribes, many park neighbors and partners, and our visiting public to provide access and enjoyment, while ensuring long-term preservation and protection of the natural and cultural resources entrusted to our care," Swartout said.