The Great Smoky Mountains National Park has found its next deputy superintendent in Patricia M. Wissinger. She replaces Kevin Fitzgerald, who retired earlier this year. Wissinger currently is the superintendent of Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area in Atlanta, one of the busiest recreation areas in the United States. She is scheduled to start her new assignment in mid-September.

She is a North Carolina native and holds a master’s degree from Western Carolina University. She began her career with the National Park Service in 1980 as a seasonal campground ranger on the Blue Ridge Parkway and moved up the ranks from there.  She has served in management positions on the parkway, at Shenandoah National Park, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wright Brothers National Memorial and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site.

Wissinger has experience in major museum design and construction, land acquisition planning, view shed management, road and bridge projects, exhibit design, educational outreach, and managing visitor services.