Press Release

Acting Superintendent Darrell Echols announced today the selection of two District Ranger positions for the Bodie Island and Ocracoke Districts in Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Ben Mckay will serve as the Bodie Island District Ranger and Ed Fuller will serve as the Ocracoke District Ranger. They will supervise the law enforcement, emergency services, wildland fire, and lifeguard programs within their respective districts.

Ranger Ben Mckay, a 14 year National Park Service (NPS) veteran, is a native of Maine. Ben has a broad range of NPS law enforcement and emergency services experience and has previously worked at Acadia National Park in Maine, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area in Montana, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area in Utah, Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, and most recently, in Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada. Ben and his family arrive on the Outer Banks in mid-October, 2012.

Ranger Ed Fuller, currently working as a patrol ranger on Ocracoke Island since 2007, served as a Hyde County Deputy for 12 years before joining the NPS ranks. Ed has served on the Ocracoke Emergency Management Control Group from 1998 through 2007. Ed’s extensive experience with “island life” and his many years of developing relationships with local community leaders and various agencies, will serve him well as he replaces the current District Ranger and native son, Kenny Ballance, who retires in mid-October, 2012.

“Park staff welcomes both Ranger Ben Mckay and Ranger Ed Fuller to the Outer Banks and to their new positions,” stated Acting Superintendent Darrell Echols. “Both Ben and Ed have extensive knowledge and experiences, and will be great additions to the NPS management team. We are looking forward to them assuming their new duties and being a part of the Outer Banks community.”

Ranger Ed Fuller
Ranger Ed Fuller

Editor's note: Ranger Ed Fuller has been providing us with our "Busted on the Beach" information.

The Ocracoke Current would like to congratulate him on his new job.