Brian McCutchen takes over duties as the superintendent of the Knife River Indian Villages Feb. 4,

McCutchen replaces Cheryl Schreier, who recently transferred to the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. He will report to his new position on Feb. 4.

Valerie Naylor, Superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, said McCutchen's knowledge of history and historic preservation and strong background in interpretation and general park operations will be an asset to the park.

"He has the energy, experience, leadership skills and vision needed to take on the day-to-day challenges of preserving Knife River Indian Villages," Naylor said.

"I am honored to be selected as superintendent of such an important national treasure as the Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Yet at the same time, I am fully humbled at the challenge of representing and interpreting the cultural resources and important stories as they deserve to be," McCutchen said.

McCutchen began his park service career in 1992 as an intern at Shiloh National Military Park in Shiloh, Tenn., while pursuing his undergraduate work in historic preservation at Southeast Missouri' State University. From 1993 he worked as a park ranger at the park while completing his graduate work in history-historic preservation in December 1995. His work there in the Division of Interpretation and Resources Management included primary duties of conducting interpretive programs and hikes, visitor center operations, event planning and execution, cultural resources studies, hands-on preservation and historical research.

From 1999 to 200 1, McCutchen worked as a park ranger at the Arkansas Post National Memorial in Gillett, Ark. His core duties involved serving as park historian, visitor center operation and management, supervision of an active volunteer staff and seasonal Youth Conservation Corps employees. Currently, McCutchen is an architectural historian in the Cultural Resources Division in the Midwest Regional Office. He has served in this position since 2001. His primary duties are representing the National Historic Landmark program, the Historic Federal Surplus Property Program', the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act Program and to provide preservation education and assistance to private and governmental resource stewards.

McCutchen was born and raised near St. Louis, Mo. He currently resides in Avoca, Iowa with his wife, Sharon and son, Noah Keith. "My family and I are very excited as to this new challenge and opportunity. Having previously been duty-stationed in southern parks, and later working with nationally significant properties across the Midwest', I am eager for new experiences and professional relationships to be made in the upper great-plains region."

Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site is a place where visitors can explore the lives of the Northern Plains Indians on the Upper Missouri. Visitors can step into a reconstructed earth lodge and imagine boiling buffalo meat in a clay pat or pounding corn with a mortise and pestle. Visitors also have the opportunity to listen to the memories of traditional Hidatsa Indian life and learn about American Indian culture and tradition.