Grand Canyon Superintendent Retires In Wake Of OIG's Sexual Misconduct Report
The Grand Canyon National Park's superintendent is retiring. The move comes in the wake of a federal investigation of sexual harassment at the park.
In an email to park staff, Superintendent Dave Uberuaga said he met with National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis last week to discuss the report’s findings. Jarvis told Uberuaga a change in leadership is needed for the park to move forward. Jarvis then offered him a position in Washington, D.C., but Uberuaga chose instead to retire to Montana on June 1.
The Office of Inspector General’s report found male park service employees had harassed female coworkers on canyon river trips for years. They had demanded sex and had punished those who refused. Whistleblowers sent a letter to the Interior Department in 2014 detailing a long-standing culture of hostility.
Federal investigators found the Grand Canyon chain of command failed to properly investigate or report allegations of sexual misconduct.
Uberuaga has worked with the National Park Service for more than three decades. During his five years as Grand Canyon superintendent Uberuaga has managed other controversial issues including overflight noise, deferred maintenance costs, the replacement of a $163 million trans-canyon pipeline, bison management and backcountry use.
