Brian Strong named as the 10th to serve as director of parks in North Carolina.
Brian Strong, a 23-year veteran of the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, has been named director of the division by the NC Department of Natural & Cultural Resources.
"Our state parks are an unparalleled resource that preserve North Carolina's natural beauty for future generations while making our communities even better places to visit and call home," said Governor Roy Cooper. "Brian Strong is a proven leader who has shown his commitment to making North Carolina's state parks even stronger and I'm confident he will serve our state well."
"We are pleased to name Brian Strong as director of North Carolina State Parks," said Department of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Reid Wilson. "His experience and leadership will serve the division well, and his commitment to the division's mission of conservation, recreation and education will benefit the people of our state and visitors."
"I'm incredibly excited to be named director and humbled by the opportunity to serve North Carolina residents and our visitors," said Strong. "The division has provided me an incredible opportunity to fulfill my passion for providing amazing opportunities for outdoor recreation in the most treasured spaces in our state. I look forward to working with our talented and dedicated staff in this new role."
Strong has been acting director of the division since early 2023 and has been a member of the state parks staff since 2000, most recently as deputy director/chief of planning and natural resources. In his roles, Strong has managed the division's State Trails Program and its major grants initiatives, including the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund and the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund and Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership.
Strong holds a master's degree in Natural Resources Policy from Duke University and a bachelor's in biology and geography from Wittenberg University.
