In this role, Hatcher will oversee the management of the award-winning Florida State Parks system. Hatcher has twice served as acting director (2017 and 2021-present) and has held leadership positions in DRP since 2016. 

“Chuck has been an integral member of the DEP team and we are thrilled to welcome him as the new director of Florida State Parks,” Hamilton said. “Our state parks are already the best in the nation, and his leadership will take them to even greater heights.” 

Hatcher joined DEP in 2016 as the assistant director of field operations for Florida State Parks.  

Since then, Florida State Parks has become the nation’s first four-time winner of the National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management and has reached milestones in attendance, revenue and resource management. 

Upon taking over as acting director in November 2021, Hatcher immediately guided Florida State Parks in opening two new properties in the Florida Panhandle – William J. “Billy Joe” Rish Recreation Area and the Bluffs of St. Teresa. 

“To serve as the director of Florida State Parks is the honor of a lifetime,” Hatcher said. “Florida’s state parks, trails and historic sites are made up of amazing natural and cultural resources, as well as amazing people. I am grateful to Secretary Hamilton for trusting me to lead this team.” 

Before joining DEP, Hatcher served for several years as the director of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department. He received the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Leadership Award in 2009 and was recognized as the county’s Conservationist Farmer of the Year in 2017. 

About Florida State Parks, Greenways and Trails  

The Florida Park Service is proud to be America’s first and only recipient of four National Gold Medals for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management (1999, 2005, 2013 and 2019), as determined by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration and the National Recreation and Park Association. 

Florida’s 175 state parks, trails and historic sites inspire residents and visitors with world-class recreation opportunities and natural wonders that help strengthen families, educate children, expand local economies and foster community pride. Florida’s natural treasures include more than 800,000 acres, 100 miles of beaches and 2,200 miles of multiuse trails, and residents and visitors should plan to visit soon and often. For more information, visit FloridaStateParks.org.