Golden Gate National Recreation Area General Superintendent Frank Dean. GGNRA/NPS photo.

The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the arm of the National Park Service that oversees Ocean Beach, the Sutro Baths ruins, Fort Funston and other nearby federal park lands, has a new general superintendent. Frank Dean was deputy superintendent of the GGNRA when General Superintendent Brian O’Neill died unexpectedly in 2009. Dean took over the administration of the park as acting superintendent, and on Monday the NPS officially confirmed him as the new general superintendent.

The NPS issued a press release Monday announcing Dean’s confirmation:

Frank Dean, a 34 year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS) has been confirmed as the new General Superintendent of Golden Gate National Recreation Area (NRA) in San Francisco, San Mateo and Marin Counties, announced today by Chris Lehnertz, Pacific West Regional Director.

“Frank stepped in at a critical time and has served with distinction over the past year at Golden Gate National Recreation Area in the acting capacity of the superintendent,” Lehnertz said in making the appointment. “He brings with him strong leadership skills, a desire to work inclusively, and a solid background in park management, and he knows the critical issues facing the park.

Dean was appointed as Deputy Superintendent of the park last year; however following the death of General Superintendent Brian O’ Neill, it was necessary for him to step in as Acting Superintendent.

“I have had the pleasure over the past year to work with our impressive park partners and neighbors and to build a solid relationship with the Bay Area community,” Dean said in accepting the position. “It is an honor to be entrusted with this opportunity to work with the wonderful staff at one of the greatest parks in the nation,” Dean continued. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation that former Superintendent Brian O’Neill established to further preserve the park and enhance our relevance and connections to the Bay Area community and our park visitors from around the globe.”

Dean began his long NPS career in Golden Gate National Recreation Area – serving at this national park in three distinct assignments. His first National Park Service position was as a park ranger on Alcatraz, Baker Beach and the Marin Headlands. In 1999, he briefly served as Acting Deputy Superintendent at Golden Gate focusing on the conversion of Fort Baker from military post to park. Most recently, he returned to Golden Gate as Deputy Superintendent from the office of the NPS Director where he was chief of the National Park Service Partnership and Centennial Planning Office.

Dean has worked in western national park areas as a ranger in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and Grand Canyon National Park. He was the management assistant at Yosemite National Park and the Chief Ranger and Assistant Superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore. From 2002 to 2007, he served as superintendent of Saratoga National Historical Park, NY and as Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Dean was born in Philadelphia. He and his wife Diane have a son, Parker, 15, and a daughter, Taylor, 12. Dean holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of San Francisco.

Golden Gate NRA encompasses 80,500 acres of nationally significant shoreline and coastal mountains of San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo Counties including Fort Point National Historical Site, Muir Woods National Monument, Mori Point, Crissy Field, Alcatraz and the Presidio.