Glacier names Yellowstone chief ranger as new deputy super

The chief ranger at Yellowstone National Park has been named Glacier National Park’s next deputy superintendent.

In his new role at Glacier, Pete Webster will be responsible for leading the park’s division chiefs in identifying park priorities, addressing complex operational challenges and long-range planning, according to a park media release Tuesday.

Webster has served as the chief ranger at Yellowstone National Park since 2015.

“Pete has proven himself to be an exceptional leader in the National Park Service,” Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow stated. “We are very fortunate he’s accepted this new post to offer expertise on some of our most challenging operations.”

Webster and his family have strong ties to the Glacier region. While still in college, he first moved to St. Mary in 1986-87 for a summer job at a local hotel. Webster returned to Glacier as an intern in 1988, as a seasonal park ranger from 1991-93, and as the sub-district ranger in St. Mary from 2004-08.

A native of the Detroit area, Webster holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University. He and his wife Dawn plan to live in the Flathead Valley with their youngest son, who will enter high school in the fall.

Webster replaces Eric Smith, who moved to Texas last fall to serve as superintendent of Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.