SILVER CITY, N.M. – The USDA Forest Service Supervisor's Office has promoted Brian Park into the position of GIS Coordinator for the Gila National Forest.

Originally from Rochester, Illinois, Park secured his first land management position at the North Rim Backcountry Office of the Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. After six seasons, he landed his first GIS position working as an intern for the city of Flagstaff, Arizona.

Continuing to lay the foundation for a career in GIS, he accepted his first fulltime position as a cartographer for the Yellowstone and Grand Tetons National Park, covering three states; Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. Very soon he moved on to the Bureau of Land Management as a GIS Specialist in southeast Oregon.

Park has been serving as a GIS specialist here on the Gila National Forest since 2009. "Brian is one of the most talented and dedicated people I know in the GIS field and the Gila is very lucky to have him on board," said Forest Supervisor Kelly Russell of the Gila National Forest.

His education includes two Bachelors of Arts degrees from University of Illinois in American History and English Literature, a certificate in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Science in Applied Geographic Information Science with an emphasis in Rural Geography.

An avid hiker, Park's connection with the forest is strong. "The Gila National Forest has a lifetime worth of trails to hike and places to see," said Park. "I have a great appreciation and respect for this forest."