David W. Hekel
Oceanside
Summary
Experienced Senior Supervising Park Ranger skilled in incident management and staff supervision. Led budget oversight and developed volunteer programs to enhance park operations and foster community engagement. Focused on environmental compliance and natural resource conservation to ensure safe recreational experiences.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Supervising Park Ranger
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
San Diego
01.2018 - Current
- Supervised Coastal Recreation Program and SONGS mitigation site access control in Del Mar since 2017, managing 2.5 full-time staff and volunteers to ensure compliance and safety.
- Supervised San Pasqual Valley Recreation Program and Lake Hodges since 2018, managing 4.5 full-time staff and volunteers to enhance recreational opportunities and resource management.
- Monitored park trails for safety and conservation compliance.
- Assisted visitors with park information and educational programs.
Senior Park Ranger
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
San Diego
01.2004 - 01.2018
Park Volunteer
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
10.1996 - 01.1999
Heavy Equipment Operator
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
San Diego
- Caterpillar Skip Loader
- Kubota Mini Excavator
- Kubota/ John Deere Tractors
- 2,000 Gallon Water Truck
- 2,000 Gallon Water Trailer
Park Operations Duties
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
San Diego
- Managed/oversaw day to day operations of the San Dieguito River Park
- Human Resource Manager for the San Dieguito River Parks Ranger Division
- Supervised a team of five rangers in daily operations and activities.
- Managed parks maintenance budget for Inland and Coastal operations, aligning resource allocation with operational needs.
- Developed and managed parks event program to enhance community engagement and promote park activities
- Established and coordinated parks volunteer patrol program to enhance safety and support park operations
Education
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner Training -
Envirotech
01.2019
Level 1 Certified Operator Training -
Hawthorne Machinery Rancho Bernardo
01.2017
Penal Code 832 - Laws of Arrest
San Diego Miramar College
01.2001
Associates Degree - Parks and Recreation Management
Palomar Collage
01.1998
Skills
- Park management
- Park supervision
- Environmental compliance
- Incident management
- Heavy equipment operation
- Trail maintenance
- Park equipment maintenance
- Resource monitoring
- Project planning
- Staff supervision
- Team collaboration
- Safety training
- Problem solving
- Effective communication
- Conflict resolution
Habitat Projects
- Trail Mitigation Project, Pamo Valley, Arroyo Toad aestivating habitat and coastal sage scrub, 3.28 acres, 01/01/18, 12/31/21
- USDA-NRCS California Gnatcatcher and Coastal Cactus Wren Restoration, Bernardo Mountain Preserve, 01/01/14, 12/31/18
- USDA-NRCS Oak woodland and freshwater pond restoration, Santa Ysabel Gorge Preserve, 01/01/14, 12/31/18
- USDA-NRCS Riparian Restoration, San Pasqual, 01/01/14, 12/31/17
- Coastal Sage Scrub Mitigation, Del Mar, 1.72 acres, 01/01/13, 12/31/16
- High Salt Marsh Mitigation, Del Mar, 1 acre, 01/01/11, 12/31/16
- Del Dios Gorge Habitat Assessment Project for Pacific Pond Turtle, 01/01/13, 12/31/13
- Horse Park Stream Bank Restoration Project, Del Mar, 01/01/10, 12/31/13
- Coastal Cactus Wren Restoration Project, San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/08, 12/31/10, 67 acres
- Santa Ysabel Gorge Pond Restoration, 05/01/08, 12/31/11, 34 acres
- Cloverdale Creek Wetland Creation and Stream Bank Restoration Project, San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/08, 12/31/12, 8.82 acres
- Santa Ysabel Creek Stream Bank Restoration Project, San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/03, 12/31/04, 200'
- East Raptor Ridge Trash Clean Up and Habitat Restoration Project, San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/03, 12/31/05, 775 cubic yards, ¾ acre
Park Operations Duties
- Managed/oversee day to day operations of the San Dieguito River Park
- Human Resource Manager for the San Dieguito River Parks Ranger Division
- Managed a Ranger crew of 5
- Created/oversaw the parks maintenance budget for both Inland and Coastal operations
- Created/oversaw parks event program
- Created/oversaw parks volunteer patrol program
Heavy Equipment Operator
- Kubota Mini Excavator
- Kubota/ John Deere Tractors
- Caterpillar Skip Loader
- 2,000 Gallon Water Truck
- 2,000 Gallon Water Trailer
Trail Projects
- Rancho Santa Fe Valley connector Trail Project, 02/01/21, 05/31/21, 1 mile
- Pamo Valley Trail Project, 09/01/17, 11/30/18, $250,000, 3.50 miles
- Del Dios Gorge Habitat Restoration and Recreation Project, 09/01/12, 12/31/13
- Lagoon Trail Construction, Del Mar, 01/01/10, 12/31/13, 1.07 miles
- Dust Devil Nature Trail and Staging Area Construction, Del Mar, 01/01/11, 12/31/12, 1.70 miles
- Del Dios Gorge Trail Construction Project, 01/01/03, 12/31/09, 2.1 miles
- Mule Hill Historic and San Pasqual Valley Trial Construction Project, 01/01/99, 12/31/02, 10 miles
- Highland Valley Trail Staging Area Project, San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/99, 12/31/99, 1.2 acres
Operations
- Supervision of Coastal Recreation Program and SONGS mitigation site access control, Del Mar, 01/01/17, Present, 2.5 full time staff and volunteers
- Supervision of San Pasqual Valley Recreation Program, Lake Hodges, and San Pasqual Valley, 01/01/18, Present, 4.5 full time staff and volunteers
Timeline
Senior Supervising Park Ranger
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
01.2018 - Current
Senior Park Ranger
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
01.2004 - 01.2018
Park Volunteer
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
10.1996 - 01.1999
Heavy Equipment Operator
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
Park Operations Duties
San Dieguito River Park, JPA
Qualified SWPPP Practitioner Training -
Envirotech
Level 1 Certified Operator Training -
Hawthorne Machinery Rancho Bernardo
Penal Code 832 - Laws of Arrest
San Diego Miramar College
Associates Degree - Parks and Recreation Management
Palomar Collage