Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

[laurelgirl]

THIS JUST IN

This will appear in several national newspapers tomorrow.

NPS Northeast Regional Office



Media contacts: For Immediate Release
Katie Lawhon, 717- 334-1124 x3121 January 28, 2009
Phil Sheridan (215) 597-0865

Latschar to remain in current post as
Gettysburg Superintendent


Gettysburg Superintendent John Latschar will remain in his current post, reversing his decision to retire and become president of the Gettysburg Foundation. Latschar made the decision following advice by Department of the Interior ethics officials that would have severely curtailed his ability to work with the park in his new role with the Foundation.

“When initially approached to consider heading the Gettysburg Foundation, Superintendent John Latschar did what any responsible federal employee should do,” said National Park Service Northeast Regional Director Dennis R. Reidenbach. “He contacted National Park Service ethics officials, and he also contacted me as his supervisor.”

When initially informed by the Washington office in October 2008 that there was no ethical issue in accepting the position, Latschar announced his retirement. Subsequently, Department of Interior ethics officials issued supplemental guidance because of Latschar’s involvement in developing agreements between the Foundation and the NPS.

"The Foundation obviously would have been honored to have John as its next president," said Foundation President Robert C. Wilburn. "But we are thrilled that he will continue to facilitate our successful partnership as superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park." A search committee to find Wilburn’s successor is in place; Wilburn will postpone his departure from the Foundation until a successor is named.

-MORE-
“I had been looking forward to the challenges of moving to the private sector and working for the Gettysburg Foundation,” said Superintendent John Latschar. “However, I can't complain about going back to the best job in the National Park Service as Superintendent of Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS. We'll now redouble our efforts to make our wonderful partnership with the Gettysburg Foundation the best that the National Park Service has ever seen.”

The Gettysburg Foundation’s loss is the National Park Service’s gain, and I am happy that John chose to remain as superintendent,” said Reidenbach. “The situation with the ethics guidance was unfortunate, but John Latschar and the Gettysburg Foundation have always maintained the highest ethical standards possible.”
--NPS--



Nancy L. Hogan
Gettysburg National Military Park
Museum and Visitor Center
Visitor Services Asst. Manager
Gettysburg, PA

[laurelgirl]

Gettysburg National Military Park and Gettysburg Foundation Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Dru Anne Neil
Gettysburg Foundation
717-338-1243 ext. 2102
dneil@gettysburgfoundation.org

Katie Lawhon
Gettysburg National Military Park
717-334-1124 ext. 3121
Katie_Lawhon@nps.gov


Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

John Latschar to take over reins from retiring President Robert Wilburn



Gettysburg, Pa. (November 7, 2008) - Gettysburg National Military Park

Superintendent John Latschar will be leaving his post on March 1, 2009 to

become the new president of the nonprofit Gettysburg Foundation, it was

announced today by the Gettysburg Foundation and the National Park Service.




“John’s vision and leadership are an important part of the successful

public-private partnership between the Gettysburg Foundation and the

National Park Service,” said Robert Kinsley, Chair of the Gettysburg

Foundation. “John’s experience and dedication exemplifies the type of

leader we are looking for as we continue to work with the National Park

Service to preserve Gettysburg for future generations.” Latschar was

selected after a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors of the

Foundation.



“Obviously, Bob Wilburn is leaving some huge shoes to fill,” said Latschar.

“No one else could have taken the Gettysburg Foundation from a concept to

the opening of our new museum and visitor center in eight short years. I’m

excited about the opportunity to continue to work towards the preservation

and care of Gettysburg NMP and Eisenhower NHS from a new perspective. My

goal will be ensure that we continue our momentum, and to move the

organization forward into a new era of philanthropy for the benefit of this

and future generations.” said Latschar.



Working as a partner with the National Park Service, the Gettysburg

Foundation raised $103 million to build a new park Museum and Visitor

Center which has ensured the preservation of the Gettysburg’s museum

collections and the Cyclorama painting. The facility’s 24,000 square feet

of museum exhibits have improved visitor understanding of the significance

of the Battle of Gettysburg within the context of the causes and

consequences of the American Civil War. A final keystone to the project

will begin this winter when the park and the Gettysburg Foundation demolish

two outdated visitor facilities located upon the center of the Union Army’s

battle line of July 1863.



“John’s background and perspectives as an army officer, a combat veteran, a

Ph.D. historian, and park superintendent contributed to his success in

addressing preservation challenges at both Gettysburg NMP and the

Eisenhower Site in innovative ways,” said Dennis Reidenbach, Regional

Director for the National Park Service Northeast Region. “The projects and

partnerships he created have dramatically improved the park’s ability to

meet its mission now and for the future.”



“It has been a pleasure to work with the dedicated park staff, our

partners, and the community to create the new museum and implement

battlefield rehabilitation to restore Gettysburg’s historic integrity and

enhance visitor understanding of the battle. I’m also proud of our combined

efforts with Main Street Gettysburg and others to develop the David Wills

House, a National Park Service museum opening February 2009 in downtown

Gettysburg about the aftermath of battle and Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,”

said Latschar. “As President of the Gettysburg Foundation, we will continue

to work with all our Gettysburg-area partners on the implementation of the

Borough of Gettysburg Interpretive Plan.



Latschar has been superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park since

1994. He is a 31-year veteran of the National Park Service. Prior to his

appointment at Gettysburg, he served as the first Superintendent of

Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, PA, and in various capacities

at the NPS Denver Service Center. He has been recognized by the National

Park Service for his leadership numerous times, including being named

Superintendent of the Year for the Northeast Region of the NPS in 1991 and

in 2001, Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship in

2003 and for Cultural Resource Stewardship in 2000.



The Gettysburg Foundation is in the midst of a $125 million Campaign to

Preserve Gettysburg, which includes the construction—now complete—of the

new Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park. The

Foundation’s broad preservation mission began in 1989 and includes land

preservation, battlefield rehabilitation, artifact preservation and

monument and cannon-carriage preservation. The Foundation has more than

30,000 members and supporters nationwide and internationally.



Current Foundation President Robert C. Wilburn will step down March 1.

Wilburn came to the Gettysburg Foundation in 2000, after being President

and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.



“Gettysburg is one of the most important places in American history,” said

Wilburn. “It has been an honor to work to preserve this hallowed ground and

to excite and inspire the millions of visitors who come here each year.

With John’s leadership, Gettysburg’s future will be preserved.”



The Gettysburg Foundation, www.gettysburgfoundation.org , is a private,

nonprofit educational organization working in partnership with the National

Park Service to enhance preservation and understanding of the heritage and

lasting significance of Gettysburg.



Nancy L. Hogan
Gettysburg National Military Park
Museum and Visitor Center
Visitor Services Asst. Manager
Gettysburg, PA

[fortdonelsonrelics]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

I wondered how all of that was going to play out.

John Walsh

[Canebrake Rifle Guards]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

Is this good news or bad news?

Greg Starbuck

[Court Micker]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

I can't say that I'm enthused about this.

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

So I'm confused...is he staying or going? Because there are two opposing press releases from Katie Lawhon.

[Fenianboy]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

Someone has a great future in Politics!!

[Court Micker]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

Staying or transferring... either way is a disappointment in quite a few people's eyes.

[NYCivilWar]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

So I'm confused...is he staying or going? Because there are two opposing press releases from Katie Lawhon.

Emmanuel,

The second press release has a date of November 7, 2008. I think it was added just to show the initial plans of the Superintendent.

-Kyle M. Stetz

[fortdonelsonrelics]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

Per the local newspaper today, he is staying as super at the National Park.

As previously mentioned, depending on who you talk to, its an even wash good and/or bad.

John Walsh

[Emmanuel Dabney]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

Oops Kyle, I didn't notice that ye olde important date. Last e-mail in my NPS box was "come to the retirement party." Thanks for picking up on that.

[laurelgirl]

Re: Gettysburg National Military Park Superintendent Named New President of the Gettysburg Foundation

So, just for clarification, Bob Wilburn is retiring from the Gettysburg Foundation. It has been his plan from the beginning to retire once the new Museum and Visitor Center was complete. The Foundation offered the position to John Latschar, superintendent of the Gettysburg National Military Park. John Latschar submitted the proposal the the NPS ethics committee who approved it as an appropriate position for him upon leaving as superintendent. The Department of the Interior then re-reviewed it, and last week deemed it as "inappropriate" an after-government job as outlined in the Dept. of the Interior guidelines. SO, John Latschar was leaving, and now he is staying. I just thought that I might be of some interest for everyone.

As for a good or bad thing, that is for you do decide whether or not you've approved of his time here. I do not mean to make any value judgement of this. :)

Oh, and as of now, the retirement party for John Latschar is off, although another event might be taking its place- stay tuned to any messages that you might receive from the NPS!