STAFF REPORTS
Deputy Commissioner Brock Hill joined local elected officials and community supporters this past Friday at Roan Mountain State Park in Carter County to host a Meet the Manager event for new Roan Mountain State Park Manager J.R. Tinch.
Tinch began his state park career in 2004 as a seasonal laborer at Cumberland Mountain State Park where he worked for two seasons, and then became a Seasonal Interpretive Ranger the following two years. In 2008, he worked for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park as an Interpretive Ranger, based at the Old Faithful District.
Upon returning to Tennessee, he was hired full time with Tennessee State Parks as a Park Ranger, where he began his career at Tims Ford State Park. While there, Tinch obtained his Emergency Medical Technician license, wildland firefighter certification, certified interpretive guide, and was awarded Tennessee State Park Ranger of the Year in 2011.
In 2013, Tinch transferred to Roan Mountain State Park where he has been until being promoted to Park Manager. He is a Crossville native and graduated in 2008 from Tennessee Technological University with a bachelor of science in criminal justice.