Lynne Benioff Elected Chair of Board of Directors

​​​​​San Francisco, CA (August 23, 2021) – Lynne Benioff was elected chair and Mark Buell was elected vice chair of the Presidio Trust Board of Directors. The Presidio Trust is the innovative federal agency that manages the Presidio of San Francisco, one of the most visited national park sites in the United States.

Ms. Benioff was appointed to the Presidio Trust Board by the President in 2015 and reappointed in 2019. She previously served as chair of the board’s Governance Committee. Mr. Buell was appointed to the Trust Board by the President in June 2021. Both also serve as co-chairs of the Presidio Tunnel Tops Campaign Committee, which has successfully raised $98 million to create 14-acres of new parkland with trails, overlooks, picnic areas, and a youth campus in the heart of the Presidio. Presidio Tunnel Tops opens in spring 2022.

“Since 2015, I have truly enjoyed working with the Presidio Trust and being part of its evolution,” said Ms. Benioff. “So much has changed, yet what remains the same is that the Presidio is one of the most unique places in the country to live, work, and play. It is such a gift to have a national park in our backyard that all can access for free. I am also proud of the Presidio’s innovation in habitat restoration, green building, environmental sustainability, and overall operational excellence.”

The next year is a pivotal time in the Presidio’s evolution as the Trust and its partners prepare to unveil Presidio Tunnel Tops, which will be the largest park-making endeavor in the Presidio’s two-decade transformation from military post to national park site. “I am counting the days until the Tunnel Tops opens,” says Ms. Benioff. “It will be transformative for the Presidio, for San Francisco, and will be regarded around the world as one of the greatest extensions of public parks ever created. Along with CEO Jean Fraser, the Trust’s executive team, and fellow board directors, I look forward to leading the park into its next chapter.”

The year 2022 also marks 50 years since the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) became a national park. As a former board president of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, its non-profit fundraising arm, Mr. Buell was instrumental in preserving the GGNRA and solidifying the partnership between the three agencies who steward the Presidio.

“As a native San Franciscan, I am honored to serve on the Presidio Trust Board,” Mr. Buell said. “Having spent twelve years on the board of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and eight of those years as the chair, I know first-hand the great history and the public purpose of the Trust. Through the foresight of the late Congressman Phillip Burton, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Amy Meyer, and scores of others, the Presidio has been permanently protected as a valued addition to the GGNRA. I look forward to working with Lynne Benioff and my fellow Presidio Trust Board members to enhance and protect the Presidio for future generations of park lovers.”

The other members of the Presidio Trust Board include Leni Eccles, George Marcus, Carole McNeil, and Nicola​ Miner. The Secretary of the Interior is expected to appoint a representative soon. Information about all Trust Board Members is
available on the website.

Full Biographies

Lynne Benioff is the co-chair of TIME and active on the boards of several organizations. She is a Distinguished Director of the Board of Overseers of the University of California San Francisco Foundation and serves on the board of directors of The Rise Fund, UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals, and the Benioff Ocean Initiative. Ms. Benioff co-chairs the Presidio Tunnel Tops Campaign Committee, which has successfully raised over $98 million to create 14-acres of new parkland with a youth learning campus. In 2020, Ms. Benioff was honored by the AFP Golden Gate Chapter on National Philanthropy Day with an “Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer Award” for her work as the co-chair on the Tunnel Tops campaign. She formerly chaired the Presidio Trust Board Governance Committee and served as a director of Common Sense Media. In 2014, Ms. Benioff was honored by Mayor Ed Lee as one of San Francisco’s “Women of the Year.” In 2020, she and her husband, Marc, received a George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award for their civic engagement. Ms. Benioff received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington. She was appointed to the Presidio Trust Board in 2015 and reappointed in 2019.

Mark W. Buell, a native San Franciscan, has spent 35-years in public and private real estate development. He served as San Francisco’s first Director of Economic Development and later as the first Director of the Emeryville Redevelopment Agency. Mr. Buell is a former board president of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy and currently co-chairs the Presidio Tunnel Tops Campaign Committee with Presidio Trust Board Acting Chair Lynne Benioff. He has also served on the boards of the Bolinas Museum, the Chez Panisse Foundation, and the California Academy of Sciences. He is President of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Commission and President of the Marin Community Foundation. A graduate of the University of San Francisco, he also sits on their Board of Trustees. Mr. Buell is a decorated Vietnam War veteran. He was appointed to the Presidio Trust board in June 2021.

Save the Date: Presidio Trust Public Board Meeting on September 23

All are welcome to attend a public board meeting of the Presidio Trust Board of Directors in September. The topic is “Presidio Visitation,” and there is an opportunity for the public to make comments.

When: Thursday​, September 23, 6 to 8 pm
Where: Virtual Meeting

About the Presidio Trust and Board of Directors

The Presidio Trust is a federal agency that manages the Presidio of San Francisco, a national park site at the heart of the 82,000-acre Golden Gate National Recreation Area. In partnership with the National Park Service and the non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the Presidio Trust brings alive the park’s historic, natural, and recreational assets for the inspiration, education, health, and enjoyment of all people. The Presidio Trust is governed by a seven-member board of directors. Six members are appointed by the President of the United States. The seventh is the U.S. Secretary of the Interior or her designee. Board terms are four years and may be renewed once.