News Release

Joseph Brehm is Selected as Superintendent of De Soto National Memorial

Date: February 16, 2023
Contact: Daniel Stephens, 941-792-0458 ext. 106
Contact: Andrea Walton, 865-210-2623

Joseph Brehm Superintendent De Soto National Memorial

NPS Photo

Joseph Brehm selected as De Soto National Memorial superintendent 
ATLANTA — National Park Service (NPS) South Atlantic-Gulf Regional Director Mark Foust today announced the selection of Joseph Brehm as the new superintendent of De Soto National Memorial in Bradenton, Florida. Brehm begins his new assignment on February 26. 

“Joseph joins De Soto National Memorial with deep experience preserving stories that represent defining moments in American history,” said Foust. “Pairing this experience with his passions for Florida and active community collaboration help make Joseph well-poised to keep moving this park forward.” 

“I am really looking forward to serving as the superintendent of De Soto National Memorial and am excited to return to the Southeast,” said Brehm. “The staff at De Soto are a wonderful crew and I look forward to doing some great work together.” 

Brehm is a 28-year NPS veteran. Since 2015, he served as chief of interpretation at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site in Philip, South Dakota. During his tenure at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, Brehm also completed assignments as an acting instructor for the NPS Fundamentals employee training program at Horace M. Albright Training Center and acting superintendent at Minuteman Missile National Historic Site and De Soto National Memorial.  

Brehm began his NPS career as a college student volunteering at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in St. Augustine, Florida before obtaining a seasonal fee collector and interpreter position at the park in 1994. He then became a law enforcement ranger at Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in 1995 and spent several years working in law enforcement and historic weapons interpretation after earning his historic weapons supervisor certification in 1996. Brehm transitioned to interpretation full time in 2001, coordinating Castillo de San Marcos National Monument’s living history and historic weapons program. He ultimately served as the lead instructor for 18^th century weapons within the historic weapons supervisor program until 2015.   

Born in Ohio and raised in Illinois, Brehm attended the University of Florida, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in classical English literature in 1987. He looks forward to returning to Florida with his Papillon dog, Rocket. In his spare time, Brehm enjoys woodworking, astrophotography and sailing.