Maj. General Anthony Jackson was sworn in Nov. 16 by Gov. Jerry Brown as the 19th Director of California State Parks, according to a press release recently sent out by the department.
Jackson will replace former Parks Director Ruth Coleman, who resigned from her position in July after a major scandal broke loose exposing financial negligence in the Parks Finance Department.
An internal investigation revealed the department was actually sitting on an “underreported” cache of $54 million that dates back 12 years.
Approximately $20 million of that belonged to the general purpose State Parks and Recreation Fund, which is intended to support the general operation of state parks.
San Diego resident Maj. General Jackson recently retired from the U.S. Marine Corps after 36 years of distinguished service.
“California has one of the finest array of park resources found anywhere in the world,” said Jackson. “I am eager to join the team and lead the efforts of the department toward a healthy and sustainable future.”
