Vicksburg National Military Park Superintendent Bill Justice retiring

Vicksburg National Military Park Superintendent William Justice is retiring Dec. 3, 2020, after more than 42 years of service.

Justice’s career has taken him to parks throughout the country in roles as a resource manager, interpretation ranger and law enforcement officer. He has worked at two parks in Mississippi, Natchez National Historical Park, and Vicksburg National Military Park.

“In a career full of memorable moments one of the best was walking through Champion Hill Battlefield shortly after it became part of Vicksburg National Military Park,” Justice said in a statement. “That was a decades long effort by a lot of people. I was thinking what an honor it was to bring those efforts to fruition. The battlefield has changed so little since 1863; it’s like walking back in time. Adding that battlefield to the park changed the future of the park.”

Justice started working with the NPS in 1974 while he was a college student. In addition to the parks in Mississippi, he has worked at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine in Baltimore, Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, C&O Canal National Historical Park in Maryland, and the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace in Kentucky.

“Serving in the National Park Service has been a lifetime adventure” Justice said. “Among the most rewarding things have been working with communities and partners to develop a shared vision for the future and helping make it come to life.”

Justice served as Acting Superintendent at VNMP from February until July 2015 when he was selected to serve as the park superintendent. He served as Acting Superintendent at Gettysburg National Military Park from May through September 2017.

Justice plans to stay in the Vicksburg area, spending more time with his wife, Barbara, who works at Cane River Creole National Historical Park in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with friends, and exploring the music and culture of Mississippi.