The Great Smoky Mountains National Park will get a new acting superintendent June 1, replacing the currect acting superintendent who has been there since January.

The Smokies has been without a permanent leader since last September, when former Superintendent Dale Ditmanson was replaced. A permanent superintendent is still being selected, but in the meantime another acting superintendent is being brought in.

Cindy MacLeod, currently superintendent of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, will replace the currect acting superintendent Pedro Ramos, who will return to his position as superintendant of Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. 

“I think this is a dream job, especially for the summer,” MacLeod said. “I look forward to working with the park staff, volunteers and partners to continue to meet the mission of taking care of and learning about the wondrous diversity of life, and providing for its enjoyment in a safe, sustainable way.”

MacLeod has worked for the National Park Service since 1980, when she started out as an architectural historian in Michigan. She is a Duke University undergrad, has a master’s in architectural history from the University of Virginia and completed management programs at Harvard University.