The Fairfax County Park Authority is pleased to announce that Michael T. Reynolds (Mike) has been appointed by Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik to represent the Providence District on the Park Authority Board. Reynolds will fill the seat following the tenure of previous members and brings decades of distinguished public service and leadership in national park management to the role.

Reynolds recently retired in 2024 as the Deputy Director of External and Congressional Affairs for the National Park Service, concluding nearly 40 years of leadership across many of the nation’s iconic parks, including Yosemite, Cape Cod, Fire Island, Mojave and Olympic national parks. Throughout his career, he also held key regional leadership roles in Denver, Philadelphia and Omaha, and served in multiple senior positions at NPS headquarters in Washington, D.C., including acting director of the agency in 2017.

With academic credentials spanning environmental studies, a master’s degree in business administration, a certificate in strategic leadership from Cornell University and senior executive fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Reynolds brings a unique combination of expertise in environmental stewardship, organizational leadership and strategic planning. He is also a LEED Green Associate and actively serves as a board member for the Chesapeake Conservancy while engaging locally in his Fairfax County neighborhood civic association.

Reynolds' extensive experience in managing complex operations, negotiating diverse stakeholder interests and advancing conservation, sustainability and climate resiliency aligns perfectly with the Park Authority’s mission. Passionate about connecting parks to all populations and adapting them for modern challenges while preserving their natural integrity, Reynolds looks forward to serving Fairfax County’s citizens and supporting the continued stewardship of their treasured park system.

Reynolds will be up for reappointment in December 2028.

For questions, contact the Public Information Office at ParkMail@fairfaxcounty.gov.