<< Back 12/25/02 Francis proposed for park superintendant SMN The Knoxville News-Sentinel reported Dec. 17 that a contingent of U.S. legislators from Tennessee are lobbying for the promotion of Great Smoky Mountains National Park Assistant Superintendent Phil Francis to superintendent. Francis, a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service, has been assistant superintendent at the Smokies for eight years. He was acting superintendent from late 1999 until Mike Tollefson was appointed in 2000. Francis is presently acting superintendent again with Tollefson’s departure to take the reins at Yosemite and David Mihalic’s refusal to accept the Smokies position. The News-Sentinel listed Rep. John Duncan Jr. (R-Knoxville), Rep. Bill Jenkins (R-Rogersville) and Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) as those who have urged NPS director Fran Mainella to promote Francis. Francis, who is currently enrolled in the NPS’s senior executive training, would not comment on the congressional recommendations. “The director basically has three ways to fill that position. She could appoint another senior executive; she could select a person of her choice or she could compete [list the job opening for applications] it. It’s my understanding that she will compete that job,” said David Barna, chief of communications for the NPS. Barna said there would likely be a decision on the position shortly after Jan. 1.