SMART PERSON Matthew Turner Social media specialist The NPS ranger keeps us virtually connected to the West's most beautiful places. Matthew Turner is the quickwitted, 37-year-old ranger behind the National Park Service's official social media presence. He began his career at Fort Pulaski National Monument in Georgia, working the park entrance station before moving into guided tours and living history demonstrations. He joined the Office of Communications at the Washington, D.C., headquarters in 2018 to manage the NPS accounts on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, which collectively boast nearly 5 million followers. Turner's posts are often hilarious and timely- such as showing a skunk " practicing social distancing before it was cool. " 14 VIA | MAY+JUNE 2020 CREDIT HERE