This is Dan Wenk. He’s a dad, a husband, a grandfather, a friend, and a profoundly wise and effective public servant. Today marks the first day following his 43-year career with the National Park Service. Today – too early and in circumstances disrespectful and baffling – Dan is retired. His last post – Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park.

You can read in this June 7 Washington Post piece a bit about those circumstances. Toward the close of the article there’s also a small sampling of the countless contributions Dan has made across four decades of leadership with the NPS.

Dan is a true man of the world. He is also a man of the people. He deeply understands that the wellbeing of nature and the wellbeing of humans are fully intertwined.

Few will match Dan Wenk’s contribution to the National Parks. Many in the NPS and across the many communities he’s served are saddened at his departure – at the circumstances – at the prematurity.

Get to know this man’s work and career. Take a look at his leadership. In these days when integrity in public leadership can be so very thin, we all stand to learn a great deal from Dan.

For one big thing, considering Dan’s career reveals clearly that, right in the midst of embattled political arenas, integrity can work with great and positive effect.

Dan listened, spoke, thought carefully and led at the intersections of vastly varied interests – from land developers to environmentalists, from Native American Tribes to ranchers to animal rights advocates to snow mobile enthusiasts. And for 43 years every one of us benefitted from Dan’s public service through our National Parks.

Dan Wenk does not perform integrity, he lives and acts directly from the respect and encouragement he values.  I’m honored to have had the chance to work with him.

In that time, I got to see this generous and brilliant man in action. And based on what I observed, I’m betting that in retirement, Dan will not cease from his advocacy and care for the lands and their people.

Watch what he does next as his life continues to teach. Watch. Be inspired. And let’s all get active!

“A lot of listening has to be done.”