HARRISBURG — John Hallas, former state park assistant director, has been named the director of the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of State Parks.

He spent three years in Butler County as the regional manager of State Park Region Two, based in an office in Moraine State Park.

Hallas, who has served as assistant bureau director three years, will oversee park facilities totaling almost 300,000 acres.

Joining the DCNR in 2000 as a park manager trainee, Hallas served at parks throughout his career. In 2001, he was promoted to assistant park manager at Hickory Run State Park Complex, based in Luzerne County, and was promoted again in 2003 to park manager at Tobyhanna State Park Complex, headquarter in Monroe County.

Beginning in 2004, he served six years managing Ohiopyle State Park, Fayette County, followed by three years as regional manager based at Moraine.

In January 2013, he was appointed to be assistant director, working out of the bureau’s Harrisburg headquarters.

State parks in Butler County are Moraine and Jennings Environmental Education Center. McConnells Mill State Park is just over the Butler/Lawrence county line near Moraine.