News Release

Dana Lee named as new mental health and wellness coordinator

Dana Lee selected as mental health and wellness coordinator for NPS.

Courtesy of Dana Lee

News Release Date: March 16, 2023

Contact: Candy Stevenson, [phone]

Dana Lee has been selected as the mental health and wellness coordinator for the National Park Service (NPS) Wildland Fire Program. This position serves to provide the wildland fire workforce with the mental health resilience to withstand, adapt to, and recover from stress and adversity. Dana is a Commander with the United States Public Health Service.

Before joining NPS, Dana served as the department head of outpatient mental health services and operations officer, Directorate of Mental Health, at the Naval Medical Center San Diego, which serves the operational units with the highest Navy and Marine Corps concentration. For much of her career, Dana has focused on resilience building and early intervention. Dana was commissioned in 2009 and assigned to the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood Texas, where she served as the officer in charge of outpatient services. In late 2011, she was assigned to the Defense Centers of Excellence of Psychological Health as Chief of Early Intervention. Dana spent the next few years working in grant management and policy implementation at the Health Resources and Services Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Dana earned her Bachelor of Arts in psychology and Master of Social Welfare degrees from the University of California Los Angeles. She later received a doctorate degree from Clemson University’s College of Behavioral, Health, and Social Sciences while on active duty. 

Dana lives in San Diego, CA and spends much of her weekends jogging or walking around North Island’s beautiful beach, the birthplace of naval aviation. The background in the picture shows the wonderful view of Balboa Park from her office!