Delaware North Executive Tapped to Lead National Park Service

Scott Socha, a group president at the hospitality company, has been nominated by the Trump Administration to run the National Park Service.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Scott Socha, a group president at Delaware North who oversees the company's resort and parks contracts, has been nominated by the Trump Administration to lead the National Park Service. Socha has worked at Delaware North since 1999 and the company provides hospitality services in seven national parks.

Why it matters

The National Park Service oversees the management and operations of the United States' national parks, monuments, and other protected federal lands. Socha's nomination to lead the agency comes as the Trump Administration has faced criticism for its policies regarding public lands and the environment.

The details

Socha, a Western New York resident, graduated from St. John Fisher College for his undergraduate degree and later earned an MBA from the University at Buffalo. He has worked his way up the ranks at Delaware North, a hospitality company that provides services in seven national parks.

  • Socha was nominated by the Trump Administration in February 2026.

The players

Scott Socha

A group president at Delaware North who oversees the company's resort and parks contracts, and has been nominated by the Trump Administration to lead the National Park Service.

Delaware North

A hospitality company that provides services in seven national parks and where Socha has worked since 1999.

Trump Administration

The current presidential administration that has nominated Socha to lead the National Park Service.

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What they’re saying

“We're in the hospitality business, Delaware North is, the Jacobs family. And we've been in the parks and resorts business since the early '90s. We operate in and around national parks and state parks. We also own hotels and resorts around national parks.”

— Scott Socha, Group President, Delaware North (WGRZ)

What’s next

The Senate will need to confirm Socha's nomination before he can officially take over as the head of the National Park Service.

The takeaway

Socha's nomination to lead the National Park Service raises questions about the influence of private companies in the management of public lands, as he comes from a background overseeing major national park contracts for Delaware North.