Award Winners Recognized at the 64th Annual NASBLA Conference
The 64th Annual NASBLA Conference was held in Denver, Colorado from Sept. 19 – 22, 2023. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 21, NASBLA presented their annual national awards, recognizing NASBLA members and colleagues in the recreational boating safety community for their outstanding contributions to boating and water safety. NASBLA had the opportunity to recognize 21 award winners at this year’s event.
Lifetime Achievement Award
NASBLA first began presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. This award is designed to recognize a person who has contributed to boating safety over his or her lifetime.
- Chief Deputy Gladhart began his career with the Clearwater County Sheriff’s Office in 1989. In 2002, he was hired as a full-time Marine Deputy for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and has served in that role for the last 22 years. Over the course of his career, Chief Deputy Gladhart has inspected thousands of boats, issued thousands of warnings, and written hundreds of citations for boating violations. He has also taught boating safety courses to thousands of students. As an Idaho Master Instructor in Law Enforcement, Chief Deputy Gladhart has been instrumental in the development and instruction of Idaho Marine Law Enforcement Training, and curriculum. He has personally trained hundreds of Idaho marine law enforcement officers. In addition to this, Chief Deputy Gladhart also served as a member of the National Boating Education Standards Panel.
- Dan Shipman embarked on his Coast Guard journey in 1977 when he enlisted and attended Basic Training at Training Center Alameda. From Seaman Apprentice to Boatswains Mate 3rd Class, Dan Shipman excelled in his duties and obtained critical qualifications, including Basic Boat Coxswain on the 44' Motor Lifeboat and 25' Motor Surf Boat, Law Enforcement Boarding Officer, and Emergency Medical Technician. In 2003, Dan transitioned into the role of a Recreational Boating Safety Specialist for the 13th District of the U.S. Coast Guard. He established partnerships, advised on legislation, and developed critical safety programs, including the Coastal Bar Warning and Information System. Throughout his career, Dan's contributions have touched countless lives, ensuring the safety and well-being of boaters across the nation.
- Colonel Darren Rider was hired as a wildlife officer in 1985. Over the last 38 years he worked as a lead wildlife officer, boating incident investigator, boating law administrator, assistant chief and ultimately chief in his agency. Colonel Darren Rider epitomizes the characteristics of servant leadership both within the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) as well as in his roles in NASBLA. Since leaving his post as NASBLA President in 2015, Darren has continued to serve the association in key roles including Chair of the Vessel Identification, Registration and Titling (VIRT) Committee from 2018 to 2023, and, simultaneously, as Chair of the NASBLA Awards Committee for the last six years. Prior to that, and his Executive Board service from 2012 through 2016, Darren served as Chair of the Boating Accident Investigation, Reporting and Analysis Committee (BAIRAC, ERAC’s predecessor) from 2004 to 2005, and Chair of the Enforcement and Training Committee from 2006 to 2010.
Chair’s Award
At the end of her term, the NASBLA Chair selects individuals to honor with special recognition for their contributions during the past year to boating safety and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
- Seth Wagner joined the Engineering, Reporting and Analysis Committee (ERAC) in 2013, and has been a workhorse for the committee for the past decade. His penchant for critical thinking, his strong work ethic and his deep knowledge of incident reporting and analysis in the Sunshine State have served the committee well. In 2018, Seth was appointed as the ERAC Vice Chair, and in 2019 he was tapped to lead the committee where he would serve as Chair until he stepped down as BLA last March. During that time, he acted as an effective liaison between the committee, NASBLA Executive Board and Boating Safety Division in a year-long review and revision effort to finalize CG-BSX Policy Letter 23-01 Recreational Boating Incident Reporting for release to the states in January. In his transition this year from Florida BLA to State Program Coordinator/RBS Specialist in the Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Division, Seth has been a bridge between past and current work and is continuing his involvement in the collaborative efforts to ensure a clear translation of policy into effective reporting guidance for the states.
NASBLA Award
The NASBLA Award is given in appreciation to an individual who has either given a lot of time and effort to the association to help achieve its objectives or who is acknowledged nationally, statewide, or in their community for notable contributions to the betterment of boating.
- Judy Schink and Paul Barnard are the reason that the Aqua Alert Act was brought to life. The idea of "Aqua Alert" was conceived by Judy Schink and her son Dan Schink after 61-year-old David Schink disappeared in Destin while kayaking in the Gulf of Mexico in February 2021. During an extensive, three-day search and rescue operation, Dave's kayak was discovered 20 miles offshore of Destin, but Dave was never found. Judy Schink and her family transformed a devastating tragedy into an unwavering commitment to prevent other families from enduring the same heartache. Their dedicated efforts have led to the development of the Aqua Alert Act. The Aqua Alert Act became law under the supervision of the United States Coast Guard on January 1, 2023. Aqua Alert is similar to an Amber Alert system but for missing boaters and paddlers. The Aqua Alert allows volunteer boaters to be notified when authorities need help for water searches. Without the efforts of Paul Barnard, it is doubtful that Aqua Alert would have been established so rapidly, if at all. Upon hearing about the Aqua Alert idea, Paul took the initiative to go to Destin to discuss the idea further with Judy and her family. He set up an entire week of Aqua Alert related meetings and events and made arrangements to film a public service announcement surrounding Dave’s story. Without Judy and her family's innovative Aqua Alert concept and Paul's steadfast dedication to advancing boating safety by nurturing this program, Aqua Alert might never have evolved into what it is today.
Compass Award
Created in 2009, the Compass Award is a means of recognizing a NASBLA member agency for significant measures and leadership it has taken to develop a model of performance in a specific area. This award identifies an agency whose program, effort, or initiative has truly enhanced our nation’s safety and security, and one that has become a model for us to follow.
- The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) developed a Cold Water Safety Campaign as a strategic and planned approach to raise awareness of the dangers associated with boating during the cold water months between March 1st and May 30th. In Connecticut, water temperatures remain cold through the end of May and over the last 10 years, 36 percent of the state’s boating fatalities have occurred between March and May. These fatalities have disproportionately been paddlers, 64 percent of the time. The Cold Water Safety Campaign was developed in response to this data. The messaging was broad-based but had a regular focus on paddling. Topics included boating tips, cold water immersion data, boating regulations, and safety equipment. The Cold Water Safety Campaign has enhanced boating safety in Connecticut and can be used as a model by other states. CT DEEP is pleased to report that there were no paddling-related fatalities in Connecticut during the 2023 Cold Water Safety Campaign between March and May.
National Safe Boating Council Chair Award
Over the past 60 years, no organization has been a closer partner to NASBLA than the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC). In fact, the NSBC, then the National Safe Boating Committee, was one of a handful of national organizations who encouraged state boating authorities to form their own national association in 1960, and shortly thereafter, NASBLA was born. Since those early days, the National Safe Boating Council has been an indispensable partner to the states in implementing the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. Together, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary and dozens of other national and local grassroots organizations, the national RBS program has saved an estimated 75,000 lives thanks to these collaborative, community-based efforts.
- Robert Newsome serves as the Chair of the NSBC and was presented with this award in recognition and appreciation of the steadfast leadership and valued partnership exhibited by the NSBC, their governing officers and most especially the Council Chair. Whether it is through their National Safe Boating Week campaigns, the annual International Boating and Water Safety Summit, or the myriad of other strategic programs that benefit the entire boating community, the NSBC remains a champion for recreational boating safety. This kind of sustained commitment to their mission is the result of, not only the hard work and dedication of NSBC’s staff, but also to the long-term vision and persistence of it elected leaders.
National Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year
Generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc., the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award was launched by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize those who go above and beyond to engage students and boaters, raise awareness, and make boating education initiatives relevant, thorough and exciting.
National Boating Officer of the Year
First presented in 2000, the Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Award, known as the Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, is presented annually to a boating law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to the field of boating law enforcement.
Operation Dry Water Awards
The Operation Dry Water (ODW) Awards Program recognizes law enforcement officers and agencies that are making a positive impact on boating under the influence (BUI). During the ceremony, the ODW Officer of the Year, Top Agencies and Media Award winners were honored for their hard work and dedication to boating under the influence prevention and the Operation Dry Water campaign. Click here to read more about the 2023 ODW award winners.
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The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
We offer a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards, publications and more. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, we affect the lives of over 85 million American boaters.