RAYMOND DAVID VELA

David Vela, retired from the National Park Service in September 2020 after 30 years with the agency, most recently serving as Deputy Director, Exercising the Authority of the Director. He also served as Chair for the Committee for the Preservation

of the White House. David was the first Latino to be nominated by the President of the United States to serve as Director of the National Park Service.

David held numerous leadership and executive level assignments in the agency to include serving as a Superintendent, Regional Director, and Associate Director. While serving in state government, he served as Director of the Texas Child Support program under the Attorney General of Texas. David serves on a number of national nonprofit boards, is a national motivational speaker, and is the founder and president of Vela Heritage Consulting, LLC.

He is a graduate of Texas A&M University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation and Parks. He is the author of Hola Ranger, My Journey Through The National Parks. David and his wife Melissa have two children and eight grandchildren.