Cassius Cash, a Memphis native who is currently superintendent for Boston National Historical Park and Boston African American National Historic Site, will assume his new post in February.

“I wholeheartedly look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working with and learning from a group of dedicated employees at the park who have the privilege of and responsibility for preserving and protecting some of the most precious natural and cultural resources in the country,” Cash said.

Cash will be the first African-American to serve as the superintendent of the Smokies.

Cash has spent the majority of his public lands career with the U.S. Forest Service, beginning in 1991 as a wildlife biologist at the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington State. He went on to work with that agency for 18 years in various leadership positions.

He served as an administrative officer in Nebraska, district ranger in Georgia, and a civil rights officer in Mississippi. Cash was the deputy forest supervisor at the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest in southern Oregon before transferring to Boston. 

Cash has served as superintendent at the Boston parks since 2010. Earlier this year, Cash served as the deputy regional director and chief of staff in the Northeast Regional Office.

“Cassius has a great reputation as a leader and has proven his ability to effectively work with partners, stakeholders and local communities. We know that he will be an excellent steward of the Smokies, one of the crown jewels of the Southeast Region,” said NPS Southeast Regional Director Stan Austin, who made the appointment.