Daniel “Boone” Vandzura has been named chief ranger of the Visitor & Resource Protection Division of the Outer Banks Group.
Vandzura began his career with the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park as a fee collector at the south entrance in the summer of 1994.
After that first season, he became a law enforcement ranger. His first assignment was a seasonal Yellowstone back country ranger and the nickname “Boone” stuck.
He went on to attend the federal Law Enforcement Academy in 2001 to become a full-time, permanent ranger.
In the fall of 2001, he moved to the scenic Yellowstone Lake District as the day shift supervisor, and in 2005 he was promoted to the Old Faithful Deputy District Ranger.
A few years later, he was again promoted and moved back to Yellowstone’s interior Canyon District.
In 2009, he accepted the emergency services director position in the busy front-country section of the park and was stationed at park headquarters for the last seven years.
While serving for 21 years in one of America’s crown jewel parks, Vandzura developed a deep commitment to the National Park Service and served several details as deputy chief ranger.
This year, Vandzura came to the Outer Banks Group this year to serve as acting chief ranger in the height of this area’s busy summer months. He and his family enjoyed their time here, and he accepted the chief ranger position this fall.
Vandzura and his wife Jan have two children, Elle and Hart, both 11 years old.
