Pearl Harbor non profit CEO leaves organization

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HONOLULU — A non-profit that supports National Park Service operations at Pearl Harbor said Thursday its CEO is no longer with the organization.

Pacific Historic Parks didn’t disclose the reasons for Ray L’Heureux’s departure, saying it was a confidential personnel matter.

The move came four months after the organization’s board placed L’Heureux on paid administrative leave while it investigated allegations made against him in an anonymous letter.

“Ray is no longer with PHP and the reasons are a confidential personnel matter that cannot be discussed at this time,” board member Jim VanDerKamp said in a statement.

L’Heureux left the organization on Aug. 4, VanDerKamp said.

L’Heureux didn’t immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

Pacific Historic Parks runs a gift shop at the Pearl Harbor visitors’ centre and raises money to support the USS Arizona Memorial. The Park Service relies on funds from the non-profit to help maintain the national landmark, which is visited by 1.8 million people each year.

Jacqueline Ashwell, superintendent of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, said it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to comment on Pacific Historic Parks’ internal matters.

“PHP is a strong partner, and we wish them well on their search for new leadership,” Ashwell said in an emailed statement.

VanDerKamp said the board would begin searching for a new CEO soon but he didn’t have details.

Pacific Historic Parks’ website said Aileen Utterdyke, the non-profit’s chief financial officer since 2012, has been serving as interim CEO.

L’Heureux joined Pacific Historic Parks as CEO in late 2015. He served in the Marine Corps for 30 years, including stints as a helicopter pilot and commander of Marine Helicopter Squadron One, which flies the president.

Before Pacific Historic Parks, he was an executive with the Hawaii State Department of Education.