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The new National Park Service director could be the first to give her orders with an English accent.
But before she assumes responsibility for Yosemite, Sequoia, Great Smoky Mountains and other landmarks, Mary Bomar must win confirmation in the waning days of the 109th Congress. That could prove a sticky wicket, as lawmakers rush to adjourn and resume campaigning.
"One would think she is pretty noncontroversial," National Park Service spokesman David Barna said Wednesday. "On the other hand, senators can put holds on nominees for other reasons."
A park service professional and naturalized U.S. citizen, Bomar currently oversees the park service's 13-state Northeast Region.
She's had her share of politically sensitive positions, from first superintendent of the Oklahoma City National Memorial to temporarily managing the Rocky Mountains National Park.
This has given the 62-year-old native of Leicester, England, juggling practice, as when she oversaw Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. That job included balancing public access with post-9/11 security measures, as well as figuring out how to commemorate George Washington's slaves.
"She really does create an environment of partnership," said Amy Needle, executive director of a Philadelphia-based group called Once Upon a Nation. "She made a really strong effort to be very cooperative."
Needle recalled Wednesday that Bomar "really turned things around" at Independence Hall, during a tenure that included the opening of the National Constitution Center. Bomar, for instance, agreed to bring in private actors and actresses who dress in historic garb and help spin yarns for visitors.
"I greatly admire the passion that Mary brings to her work," Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne said in a statement. "I am confident that Mary is the right person to ensure that our national parks endure for the enjoyment of future generations."
Kempthorne is a former Idaho senator, which could help him promote Bomar among his former colleagues. With Congress seized by increasing pre-election tension, Bomar's status as a nonpartisan park service employee might also ease her confirmation.
The current park service director, Fran Mainella, rose to the job after running Florida's state parks as well as a recreational trade association. In the past 20 years, the top job has typically alternated between National Park Service professionals and those with state-level experience.
"The fact that someone has come from the organization is certainly an advantage," Yosemite National Park spokesman Scott Gediman said. "When she's talking to the superintendents at Yosemite, or Grand Canyon, she knows the situation well."
Bomar joined the park service in 1990, following work as an administrator in the Pentagon.
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