Director
Tony Hillig was named director of North Dakota Parks and Recreation after being appointed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong on August 20, 2026.
Hillig had served as chief of the department’s recreation division since December 2020, providing statewide leadership for recreation grants, trail management, motorized recreation and safety programs while supervising professional staff and serving on the agency’s leadership team. He previously served as the department’s motorized recreation coordinator.
Prior to joining Parks and Recreation in 2019, Hillig served over 25 years in the U.S. Army. During his final five years of service, he served in senior command sergeant major roles at Fort Carson, Colorado, progressing from brigade-level leadership to a division-level position. A native of Bismarck, he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy (Alabama) University.
Agency Phone: (701) 328-5357
Agency Email: parkrec@nd.gov