The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority earlier this month announced the newly elected members of its Board of Directors:

• Brian Knapp, a Fairfax City, chairman
• Stella Koch, Fairfax County, vice chairman
• Alexandria representative David Pritzker, treasurer
• Arlington County’s Michael Nardolilli, at-large, Executive Committee.

Knapp works at The Cohen Group, following an 18-year career at the U.S. Department of Defense. Most recently, he served as senior advisor to the deputy assistant secretary of Defense for Strategy, overseeing the DOD’s interactions with foreign defense establishments around the globe. He also developed regional strategies and coordinated discussions with key U.S. allies on issues such as global defense posture and defense strategy.

A graduate of UCLA and Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government, Knapp completed a master’s degree in business administration from Georgetown University while attending the school's International Executive program. He is a three-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Award. In addition to his role as chairman of the NVRPA Board, he is also a member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board in the City of Fairfax, and was recently selected to serve on the Board of the National Recreation and Park Association, which is headquartered in Ashburn.

“We recently celebrated our 50th year as a Park Authority, and as we begin our sixth decade, I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Board of Directors and leveraging their passion and dedication to parks and trails and open space,” Knapp said. “It is a great honor to be associated with a Park Authority that has such a terrific reputation in providing quality services and activities and facilities to the citizens of Northern Virginia.”

Koch has played a central role in many environmental issues in Fairfax County. She chairs the county’s Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC), a citizen body that advises the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. Koch is also a founding member of the Fairfax League of Conservation Voters, an organization that measures the environmental emphasis taken by candidates for public office before endorsing them. Koch created the Fairfax Environmental Network to serve as a clearinghouse for various environmental, conservation, and ecological organizations, activities and causes. She is a Virginia conservation associate at Audubon Naturalist Society.

The Regional Park Authority would also like to announce that Dan Kaseman, a resident of Purcellville, has been selected by Loudoun County as one of its two NVRPA Board representatives, joining longtime Board member Joan Rokus. Kaseman is the co-founder of Kaseman LLC, based in Chantilly, which is a leading provider of professional engineering and technical security solutions to the federal government. 

“The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority has a reputation of being one of the most dynamic and innovative park agencies in the nation,” said Barbara Tulipane, president and CEO of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), in a press release. “The board and staff are made up of leaders in the field, and Brian Knapp is no exception. He will build on their strengths, and help them to continue achieving great things as their new chairman.”

For more information about the NVRPA Board, please visit www.nvrpa.org.