Jean Fraser Selected by Board to be Chief Executive Officer

Respected Executive to Take Helm of Unique National Park Site in September

​SAN FRANCISCO (July 13, 2016) — ​The Presidio Trust board of directors today announced its selection of Jean S. Fraser to lead the independent federal agency that oversees the nearly 1,500 acre national park and former military post. Ms. Fraser, the former Chief of the San Mateo County Health System, will start on September 6.

​“The Presidio Trust board of directors undertook an extensive national search for a CEO to help sustain and improve this treasured national park while broadening its public reach,” said Presidio Trust board chair Paula Collins. Once a legendary U.S. Army post, the Presidio now offers 24 miles of hiking and biking trails, access to spectacular views of the ocean and Bay, and a wide range of free public programs. The Presidio is also a community where 7,000 people live and work in revitalized buildings that were once used by the U.S. Army. As mandated by Congress, the Presidio Trust funds its entire operations without taxpayer support.

Ms. Fraser was selected for her business acumen, her deep experience in serving diverse populations, and her passionate and long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life for residents across the Bay Area. Prior to serving as the Chief of the San Mateo County Health System with revenues of $600M and 2,200 employees, Ms. Fraser was the CEO of the San Francisco Health Plan where she successfully led a drive to insure all low-income children in San Francisco, becoming the first city in the nation to accomplish this goal.

Ms. Fraser is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School and a former board member of SPUR, TransForm, and the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition. She received her undergraduate and law degree from Yale and worked as a Deputy City Attorney in San Francisco.

“Jean is an exceptional leader with a strong track record of steering complex, public-serving organizations,” said Collins. “Jean brings a rare combination of focus and experience to the Trust at a critical time. She embodies a spirit of partnership and resolve that has helped numerous institutions provide tangible community impact. Her leadership will be instrumental in maximizing the potential of the Presidio as a vital resource for the Bay Area and beyond.”

“I am thrilled to join the Trust at this important moment in the organization’s evolution,” said Fraser. “I was fortunate to grow up in communities with great parks. As America becomes a more diverse society, I want to make sure the benefits of parks are available to all. Parks are essential to creating livable, healthy, and equitable communities. It is an honor to be selected to lead the wonderful staff of the Presidio who work every day to make this former military post a park where people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities can get outside to enjoy the unique beauty of the San Francisco Bay.”

Ms. Fraser will lead the staff of 325 employees and report to the Trust’s seven-member board of directors. Six of the directors are appointed by the President of the United States and one is a designee of the Secretary of the Interior. Ms. Fraser joins a seasoned leadership team that includes strong expertise in park operations, resource management, historic preservation, business operations, and public and educational programs.

ABOUT THE PRESIDIO TRUST

The Presidio Trust stewards the Presidio of San Francisco, a new kind of national park located at San Francisco’s Golden Gate. Once a legendary U.S. Army post, the park now offers world-class museums and restaurants, 24 miles of hiking trails, and stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco’s city skyline, the Pacific Ocean, and the San Francisco Bay. The park also features free public programs and events, and the Presidio Officers’ Club, San Francisco’s most historic building, with exhibits about the history of the Presidio and the region. A wide range of recreation, wellness, and dining options are also provided by the Trust and the Presidio’s 200 tenants. The Trust is a unique federal agency created in 1998 to save the Presidio and transform it into a national park. The Trust generates revenue for the park through rehabilitating and leasing historic buildings, and now operates the Presidio without taxpayer support. It works in partnership with the National Park Service and the non-profit Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. To learn more, visit www.presidio.gov.