RALEIGH — John Privette, a veteran park ranger, has been promoted to superintendent of Raven Rock State Park in Harnett County, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. He succeeds Superintendent J.R. Murr, who accepted a position with the N.C. Forest Service.

A superintendent manages operations and administration at a state park or state recreation area with wide-ranging responsibilities for staffing, training, law enforcement, visitor services, natural resource protection and environmental education.

A native of Indian Trail, N.C., Privette graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor’s degree in recreation management. He helped manage a fishing and scuba diving company in South Carolina before joining the division as an assistant park ranger at Carolina Beach State Park. He was a park ranger at Lumber River State Park beginning in 2007 and transferred to Jones Lake State Park in 2014.

Privette has an advanced law enforcement certification. He also holds a public pesticide operator’s license and is a certified burn boss, which are great assets for managing natural resources in the parks. Privette has extensive environmental education experience, which will serve him well in managing the parks educational programming.

“We look forward to the skills and experience John will bring to Raven Rock State Park,” said Adrian O’Neal, state parks chief of operations. “His familiarity with our park system will be a great asset as he leads this unique park, which provides visitors with a unique natural and cultural connection to the beautiful Cape Fear River.”

Raven Rock State Park was established in 1969, and now encompasses 4,684 acres.