The Navajo Rangers (formed 1957) is an organization of the Navajo Nation in the Southwestern United States, which maintains and protects the tribal nation's public works, natural resources, natural and historical sites and assist travelers. The Rangers form part of the Navajo Nation Department of Resource Enforcement (within the Division of Natural Resources). The agency currently consists of 11 officers in four different field locations. The organization was founded by Richard Fowler Van Valkenburgh. Founder "No white man has ever worked among us with greater devotion and understanding." Navajo Tribal Council Resolution, August 6, 1957 Richard Fowler Van Valkenburgh founded the Navajo Rangers in 1957. Valkenburgh (a non-native man) was born in Newark, Alameda County, California. He graduated from Compton Union High School in California and then began working with Standard Oil and Richfield Oil Companies between 1923 and 1928. He soon after began work in Archaeology as a student assistant in the Los Angeles Museum of History, Art and Science. Valkenburgh developed a strong interest in the Indians of Southern California and Arizona during his archaeological research in these areas. Richard started research in Navajo archaeology and ethnology in 1934. In 1938 he wrote A Short History of the Navajo People, and in wrote many other articles for western magazines over the years. More than forty of his articles were published in Desert Magazine alone. Most important to Richard, in the course of his life, was his work for and with the Navajo people. Valkenburgh was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to oversee research on land problems, but then resigned in 1942. In 1951, he returned to the reservation to work on Navajo land claims for the Tribal Council. He was Chief of the Land Use and Surveys Section of the Navajo Tribe, and did a great deal to establish proof of the historical occupancy rights of the Hopi and Navajo Indians from earliest times. Richard was also involved in many other projects benefiting the Navajo Nation. He analyzed boundary line disputes, was influential in the Governmental decision to add lands to the Navajo Reservation, aided in preserving historic records and files of the Navajo Tribe, and brought about the establishment of a Navajo Park Commission for preservation of Navajo antiquities. He also lived, ate, worked and slept among the natives throughout his extensive work with Navajo. Richard died of a heart attack on June 19, 1957.