Charles F. Sams III.Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Charles “Chuck” F. Sams III has been confirmed to lead the U.S.National Park Service.
The Senate unanimously confirmed Sams' nomination for NPS director on Thursday, making him the first Senate-confirmed director since theObama administration, as well as the first Native American to ever hold the position.
Sams, an enrolled member of the Cayuse and Walla Walla tribes — part of theConfederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation— marked the first Senate confirmation of an NPS director since 2009, according toThe Hill.
The Navy veteran lives on the Umatilla Indian Reservation with his wife and four children, perNPR.
“Congratulations Chuck Sams,” Umatilla Confederated Tribeswrotein a statement on social media.
“Tonight the U.S. Senate approved the nomination of Chuck Sams to be Director of the National Park Service via unanimous consent,” they added. “In the coming weeks he will be sworn in and officially begin his service as the first Native American Director of the NPS.”
Charles Sams III.Michael Brochstein/SOPA Images/Shutterstock
Speaking on Sams' behalf on Thursday, Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden called him the “right nominee” for the job.
“I know Chuck. He is hardworking. He is committed,” Wyden said, according to The Hill. “Chuck is a role model in the stewardship of American land and waters, wildlife and history.”
“And now thanks to the Senate’s unanimous decision to confirm his nomination, Congress and park-goers will have someone steady and experienced to rely on in the years ahead,” Wyden continued.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
The National Park Service is a 105-year-old government bureau that was created in 1916 thanks to President Woodrow Wilson, according to theNPS.
“The system includes 423 areas covering more than 85 million acres in every state, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands,” the service’s website states. “These areas include national parks, monuments, battlefields, military parks, historical parks, historic sites, lakeshores, seashores, recreation areas, scenic rivers and trails, and the White House.”
Prior to Sams, Jonathan Jarvis was the last Senate-confirmed director, according to The Hill. Jarvis held the position from 2009 until 2017.
Throughout the Trump administration, there were four different acting NPS directors, per the outlet.
source: people.com
