Devils Tower announces new Chief Ranger

Superintendent Amnesty Kochanowski announced the selection of a new leadership team member at Devils Tower National Monument, Chief Ranger Matt Roland. He began June 20.

Roland will lead the visitor and resource protection department while supporting several permanent and temporary staff with overseeing the protection and safety of the nation’s first national monument. Matt holds a degree in Park and Recreation Management and brings more than 20 years of NPS visitor and resource protection experience. Matt has worked at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal NHP, Mammoth Cave NP, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania NMP, Badlands NP, NPS Northeast Regional Office, and in many special assignments across the country. He’s been a Type I law enforcement officer since 2003. For the past four years, Matt has served as a supervisory park ranger at Badlands NNP. He’s a graduate of the NPS Generating Organizational Advancement & Leadership (GOAL) Academy.

Superintendent Kochanowski said, “Matt values and prioritizes staff and enables them to carry out the NPS mission. His service mindset and strategic thinking will be instrumental in addressing congestion and record-breaking visitation in the park. Along with Matt’s broad experience, his collaborative leadership style will serve staff and the park for years to come.” 

In his spare time, Matt is an avid birder, enjoys playing his guitar, backpacking, and is a proud owner of a massive comic book collection. He grew up in Michigan and currently lives in the upper Midwest with his wife and two daughters. Matt said, “I’m very excited to join the staff at Devils Tower National Monument. Everyone I’ve met here values the role they play in accomplishing the National Park Service’s mission of conserving the culture, nature, and history of this amazing place. I’m really looking forward to collaborating with the park’s team and its neighbors to ensure the continued protection of both its resources and the many people who come to visit.”