Maryland Park Service Graduates 21 New State Park Rangers

Maryland’s State Park Ranger School Class of 2021, photo by AJ Metcalf, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The Maryland Park Service today graduated 21 new State Park Rangers following four weeks of training. The rangers were honored in a ceremony at Elk Neck State Park and NorthBay Adventure Camp.

“As I have visited our public lands across the state, I have been impressed by the preparedness and dedication of Maryland State Park Rangers,” said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz. “The skills learned during the Ranger training program will be put into practice every day to protect our state’s natural places and help generations of Marylanders enjoy the outdoors.”

Ranger Myia Tariq (center) receives a certificate from Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw (left) during the 2024 Maryland State Park Ranger graduation ceremony. Photo by AJ Metcalf, Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Since the Maryland Park Service’s modern ranger school program was established in 2009, this is the 14th class of new State Park Rangers. 

“I am proud of the dedication, talent, and passion displayed by each and every graduating park ranger,” said Maryland Park Service Director Angela Crenshaw. “As guardians of our state resources, they are entrusted with not only preserving our parks but also ensuring the safety and enjoyment of all who visit. We eagerly anticipate the positive impact they will make in serving the public and safeguarding parks and natural areas for everyone.”

Ranger School focuses on the primary jobs of the Maryland Park Ranger – operations, maintenance, interpretation, and customer service. Students participate in intensive training consisting of practical exercises and written exams. Using real-world scenarios, the rangers-in-training execute emergency response, park operations, search and rescue missions, resource management and more. 

In addition to this training, rangers must also complete one year of operational experience to become fully certified.

Maryland Park Service Ranger School 2024 graduates, by work region, are:

Eastern Region

Chris Danna – Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park 

Joanna Trojanowski – Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad State Park

Central Region 

Sean Campbell – Gunpowder Falls State Park 

Michael Hook – Gunpowder Falls State Park

Joseph Horner – Seneca Creek State Park

Emma Kehrman – Seneca Creek State Park

Robin Reed – Gunpowder Falls State Park

Ronald Ripperger – Patapsco Valley State Park

James Roberts – Elk Neck State Park

Samuel Voso – Patapsco Valley State Park

Dylan Wagner – Seneca Creek State Park

Southern Region

Keith Edelen – Cedarville State Forest (Southern Maryland Recreational Complex)

Kristina Soetje – Smallwood State Park (Southern Maryland Recreational Complex)

Myia Tariq – Sandy Point State Park

Samantha (Sam) Waby – Calvert Cliffs State Park (Southern Maryland Recreational Complex)

Western Region

Richard Caputo – Wolf Den Run

Kaitlyn Mitchell – Deep Creek Lake State Park

Thomas Schlauch – Cunningham Falls State Park

Cheryl Sedlak Seaver – South Mountain Recreational Complex

Jacob Younker – Fort Frederick State Park

Park Service Headquarters

Annalyn O’Grady – Corps Program Manager