News Release

Jennifer Madello selected as superintendent of George Washington Memorial Parkway

Jennifer Madello

NPS Photo

News Release Date: December 19, 2024

Contact: National Capital Region Office

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service (NPS) has selected Jennifer (Jen) Madello as the new superintendent of George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP), which spans portions of Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. She will begin her new role on December 29. Madello is currently the program administrator for the National Park Service (NPS) Park Facility Management Division where she leads the implementation of national policies and programs concerning employee housing, asset management, transportation, sustainability and accessibility.  

“Jen leads with compassion and supports the people she works with,” National Capital Regional Director Jennifer T. Nersesian said. “George Washington Memorial Parkway preserves history, culture and nature, including the Potomac River corridor and Great Falls. The park team works with communities including the descendants of people who were enslaved by the Lee Family at Arlington House. Jen's attentiveness to people and her experience with large infrastructure projects, park operations and budget, prepare her well to serve as superintendent of George Washington Memorial Parkway.” 

Since beginning her career with the NPS in 2003 as a budget analyst, Madello has continued to take on increasingly complex roles that demonstrate her excellent financial management and leadership skills. As former deputy comptroller and budget officer for the NPS, her experience managing a $3 billion annual budget supported key fiscal strategies across the NPS. She was also previously acting superintendent at Colonial National Historical Park; chief of administration and acting deputy superintendent for National Mall and Memorial Parks; and acting deputy regional director for the NPS Pacific West Region.

“I am deeply honored to serve as the superintendent of George Washington Memorial Parkway, which embodies rich history and a vital connection to the community,” Madello said. “My family’s ties to this area and the park’s individual sites extend back three generations, making this role even more meaningful to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the GWMP team and dedicated partners to preserve these important places and share the complex, vibrant stories that define this extraordinary landscape.” 

Madello loves spending time with her family, many who are local to the D.C. area. Singing also brings her joy; she is a member of the praise team at the River Church of Southern Maryland. She lives in Maryland with her husband, Keith, who is a steamfitter in the Local 602. 

George Washington Memorial Parkway honors the nation’s first president and was designed for recreational and scenic driving along the Potomac River. It links sites that commemorate important eras in American history and preserves habitat for wildlife. The parkway and its associated trails provide a scenic place to play and rest in the busy Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. In April 2023, the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration began a $161 million Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) project to rehabilitate the parkway’s northern section. This is the busiest section of the parkway and serves about 26 million drivers each year. Learn more about George Washington Memorial Parkway.    

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