Park Service Phillips named interim 450th director

Mayor Joseph L. Boles, Jr., told city commissioners last week that Castillo de San Marcos Administrative Officer Lindsey Phillips will serve, until at least September 2012, in the position of interim director of the federal St. Augustine 450th Commemoration Commission.

The authorizing legislation for the federal commission called for a budget of $500,000 a year from 2009 through 2015; unfortunately, the hoped-for congressional funding has yet to be appropriated.

Interim Director Phillips, who is “on loan” from the National Park Service, began her federal career at Andersonville National Historic Site in 1989, when she became a clerk typist.

In 1994, she was promoted to administrative officer and served as Chief of Administration for both Andersonville National Historic Site and Jimmy Carter National Historic Site in Georgia. Phillips was instrumental in several major projects at both parks, including development of the Plains High School, Carter Boyhood Farm and the National Prisoner of War Museum.

Phillips began her assignment as administrative officer in St Augustine at the nation’s oldest masonry fort and only extant 17th century fort in North America, during May 2010.

“Lindsey made great contributions to both Andersonville and Jimmy Carter National Historic Sites as Administrative Officer,” said former superintendent Fred Boyles. “She is the consummate National Park Service professional. She has always cared deeply about protecting the resources while making sure that the needs of the visitor came first.”

In other business, commissioners agreed to discontinue un-broadcast 450th workshops that have been held before regular meetings; wrapping future 450th reports and discussions into their regular meetings which are broadcast live on Comcast Government TV (Cable Channel 3) and are streamed over the Internet..