DR. DAVID LOUTER SELECTED AS CULTURAL RESOURCES PROGRAM CHIEF

Dr. David Louter has been selected as the Pacific West Region Cultural Resources Program Chief.  Louter is currently the History Program Manager for the region.  Via this capacity, he assists park managers with the documentation of the history and historic resources of the region’s parks and he assists historic preservation partners with the stewardship of the nation’s heritage, especially our National Historic Landmarks.           “David has an in-depth understanding of the entire cultural resources program and a solid record of working well with partners and across disciplines,” said Pacific West Regional Deputy Director Rory Westberg in making the appointment.  “David also has a clear vision for how to integrate the parks’ cultural resource responsibilities and programs with our external partners.” Louter has worked as a historian for the National Park Service for twenty years, and consequently, has carried out a wide array of assignments in nearly every aspect of the Pacific West Region’s Cultural Resources Program.  During this time, he developed the region’s environmental history program, promoted the development of the region’s Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units and their use by cultural resource professionals, and served as a regional science advisor.  Louter has written a number of histories of parks for the National Park Service, ranging from the administrative history of North Cascades National Park to the National Register nomination for Camp 4 in Yosemite.  He is also the author of “Windshield Wilderness: Cars, Roads and Nature in Washington’s National Parks,” published by the University of Washington Press in 2006.   “It’s an honor to be leading a cultural resources program nationally renowned for its stewardship of the rich array of cultural resources found in the region’s parks, and its advocacy for preservation of our nation’s heritage through its work with historic preservation partners,” Louter said.  “The program has a strong tradition of taking innovative approaches to challenges, and as we go forward, I’m excited by the opportunity to work with a great regional office staff and cultural resource professionals in the parks, networks, and partnership programs who make up the program.”  Louter received his B.A. in Liberal Arts from the University of Montana, and both his M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Washington.  He is particularly interested in American environmental history both for the perspective it brings to human relationships with the natural world and the built environment, as well as for the opportunities it offers for working with scientists and resource managers on complex issues such as climate change.  Louter officially begins his assignment January 16, 2011 and will be duty stationed at the Pacific West Region’s Seattle office.