Craters of the Moon Superintendent named

A Yellowstone National Park management assistant has been selected as the new superintendent for Craters of the Moon National Monument. Wade Vagias will begin his new assignment in October, 2015.

He replaces Dan Buckley, who was recently named Chief of Wildland Fire for the National Park Service.

Vagias was involved in completing a final wintertime public use plan for Yellowstone National Park. He also worked with gateway communities, elected officials, and with numerous legislative issues.

Vagias recently completed a four-month assignment as action, interim superintendent of Bryce Canyon Naional Park in Utah. Prior to his work at Yellowstone, he also worked in the Wilderness Stewardship Division of the Washington office of the National Park Service.

Vagias earned a Ph.D. At Clemson University and holds an adjunct faculty appointment at Colorado State University.

Vagias and his wife Jenna, a program manager with the Yellowstone Association Institute, along with their daughter Brooke, enjoy multi-day river trips, camping, hunting, fishing, and exploring the many trails and backroads throughout the intermountain West.