John J. Reynolds Appointed to Board of Directors

Presidio of San Francisco (July 28, 2009) — The Presidio Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of John Reynolds to the Trust Board of Directors. Reynolds served in the National Park Service (NPS) for 39 years, including as Deputy Director and Regional Director.

In his most recent position with the NPS, Reynolds was the Director of the Pacific West Region from 1997 until 2002. As Regional Director, he oversaw parks from Nevada to Hawaii and the outer Pacific, including the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

“I am pleased with the appointment of John Reynolds to the Presidio Trust Board of Directors,” said Craig Middleton, Presidio Trust Executive Director. “John is very knowledgeable about the Presidio, having played a leadership role in its transition from the U.S. Army to the National Park Service. We appreciate John’s long dedication to our national parks. The Presidio will benefit from his experience.”

Reynolds replaces David Grubb, who was appointed by the Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton, in 2003. Grubb served as Chairman of the Trust Board. Board Vice-Chair William Wilson will assume the role of Chairman until the board selects a new Chair.

“The Trust board and staff will miss Dave Grubb very much,” said Middleton. “He has been stalwart in his support of the Presidio and the wider Golden Gate National Recreation Area for many years, first with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy where he oversaw the transformation of Crissy Field into a premier recreational destination, and then as Chair of the Trust’s board. As our Chair, Dave has continued the prudent stewardship of the Presidio’s many resources. He spearheaded the implementation of an ambitious network of trails and scenic overlooks and set a strong direction for the improvement of the Presidio’s aging infrastructure. Dave also oversaw the strategy for the ongoing remediation of the landfills that remain from the time when the Presidio was a military installation.”

Reynolds currently serves on the boards of the Association of Partners for Public Lands, Friends of the John Smith Chesapeake Trail, and Shenandoah National Park Trust. He is a member of North Cascades Institute Advisory Council and he chairs both the Flight 93 National Memorial Federal Advisory Commission and the Captain John Smith National Historic Trail Advisory Council. Reynolds is also the Senior Government Relations Advisor for the Student Conservation Association.

Reynolds retired from the NPS in 2002. He resides in Virginia.

The Presidio Trust board of directors is made up of 7 members; six members are appointed by the President of the United States, and one member is the Secretary of the Interior, or the Secretary’s designee. Three members of the board who were appointed in June 2005 are currently up for reappointment: Nancy Conner, Curtis Feeny, and T. Robert Burke. William Wilson, Nancy Bechtle, and Michael Shepherd were appointed in February 2008; their terms expire in May 2011. Wilson is serving his second term.

The Presidio Trust was established by the United States Congress in 1996 to oversee the Presidio of San Francisco, an urban national park located at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. The 1,500-acre site contains expansive open space and spectacular views, a 300-acre historic forest, and rare and endangered plants and wildlife. It also comprises nearly 6 million square feet of buildings, including 469 historic structures that contribute to its status as a National Historic Landmark District.