El Morro and El Malpais National Monuments Welcome New Superintendent

News Release Date: August 28, 2026
Contact:IMR News

GRANTS, New. Mex. - The National Park Service has selected Brinnen Carter to serve as the new superintendent of El Morro and El Malpais national monuments. Carter begins this new role on Oct. 4, 2026.

Carter brings 28 years of National Park Service experience to the position. He most recently served as the Integrated Resource Manager for Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area in Colorado, where he led resource stewardship, planning, permitting, and community relations.

He previously served as Cultural Resources Manager at Shenandoah National Park, overseeing National Historic Preservation Act compliance and tribal relations. Before that, Carter worked in Sitka National Historical Park in Alaska as the Integrated Resource, Planning, and Compliance Manager, collaborating closely with Southeast Alaska Tribes. His first park position was as a Museum Specialist and Archeologist at the Southeast Archeological Center in Tallahassee, Florida, followed by Cultural Resource Manager at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.

Throughout his career, Carter has emphasized collaborative leadership, resource protection, and building strong partnerships across agencies, tribes, and local communities.

"I'm honored to serve at one of the country's oldest national monuments and one of its most unique," Carter said. "El Morro and El Malpais are places where history, geology, and culture come together in extraordinary ways, and I look forward to working with staff, partners, and the community to protect these landscapes and share their stories."

Intermountain Region Director Bert Frost said Carter's experience and leadership will benefit both national monuments. "Brinnen brings deep expertise in resource stewardship and a strong commitment to collaboration," Frost said. "His ability to build partnerships and support community engagement will help ensure El Morro and El Malpais continue to thrive for future generations."

Carter earned a doctorate in anthropology, specializing in archeology, from the University of Florida in 2003.

For more information about El Morro National Monument and El Malpais National Monument, visit nps.gov.

RSS Feed | What is RSS?