LARNED — Kevin Eads has been selected as the new superintendent of Fort Larned National Historic Site. Eads is currently the superintendent at Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas. He will assume his new role later this summer. 

“Kevin is a proven leader with strong personal skills and work ethic,” Deputy Regional Director Wendy Ross said. “His ability to solve problems collaboratively and guide complex projects to completion will serve the park well. His extensive and diverse park experience makes him an excellent choice to manage this park.” 

“I am ecstatic, yet humbled, to have the opportunity to serve as the new superintendent of Fort Larned National Historic Site,” said Eads. “It is an amazing park with multiple layers of history, cultural diversity, and significance, and it is located in a beautiful part of the county. I look forward to working with the staff, tribal members, volunteers, partners, and the local community in the preservation and interpretation of this remarkable site.” 

Eads, a 31-year veteran of the National Park Service, holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Northeastern State University in Oklahoma and an M.S. in Forest Resources from the University of Arkansas, Monticello. He began his career at George Washington Carver National Monument as a student trainee ranger in resource management and interpretation. He has served as an interpretative park ranger at George Washington’s Birthplace National Monument, as the Resource Manager at Arkansas Post National Memorial and the Chief of Resource Management at Pea Ridge National Military Park. 

Eads has extensive experience in park management, including the program areas of administration, personnel, budget, resource management, maintenance, interpretation, and law enforcement. He has expertise in the oversight, management, development and implementation of significant plans, guiding documents, and projects that have set the direction of the parks where he has worked. 

Eads and his wife LaDena are looking forward to moving closer to his wife’s family, who have lived in the general area for generations. They have been married for 30 years and have two sons, Chad and Hunter. Eads enjoys spending time with his family, fishing, gardening, farming and hunting. 

Eads succeeds Betty Boyko, who in March became the superintendent of Homestead National Historical Park in Beatrice, Neb. As superintendent of Fort Scott National Historic Site since 2006, Boyko assumed additional duties as FLNHS superintendent in August 2013.