Mark Grupe

Mark was raised in western Loudoun County, Virginia, where, as a child, he loved exploring the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. It was on a family trip at age 13 to New Mexico and a chance visit to Bandelier National Monument where Mark fell in love with the National Park Service. 

Those childhood and adolescent experiences in national parks left a lasting impression. After graduating from James Madison University with a bachelor’s degree in communication and a minor in environmental studies, Mark moved to New Mexico, where he earned a Master of Arts in Geography from the University of New Mexico. He explored the national parks of the Desert Southwest and worked seasonally as an interpretive ranger for the Cibola National Forest.

Things came full circle in 1998, when Mark began his National Park Service career as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Specialist supporting Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. He also worked with the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and, through his involvement with volunteer trail clubs, gained a deep appreciation for the essential role communities play in stewarding our public lands.

In 2001, Mark moved back West and served as a GIS Specialist supporting wildland fire management for Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Point Reyes National Seashore, Pinnacles National Park, and the smaller Bay Area national park units.

In 2020, Mark joined the National Park Service Land Resources Division as a Realty Specialist, where he worked closely with land trusts and private landowners to acquire or conserve more than 6,000 acres of land for the National Park System.

Mark joined the National Park Trust in October 2026 as Senior Land Protection Specialist. He looks forward to drawing on his experience in land conservation, GIS, and community stewardship to protect the lands that make our national parks special.