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
- Chief Deputy Gladhart, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
- Dan Shipman, 13th U.S. Coast Guard. District
- Colonel Darren Rider, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Chair’s Award
- Seth Wagner, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (ret.)
NASBLA Award
- Judy Schink
- Paul Barnard, 8th U.S. Coast Guard. District
Compass Award
- Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
National Safe Boating Council Chair Award
- Robert Newsome, National Safe Boating Council
Regional Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educators of the Year
- Northern Region: Brian Markman, New York City Police Department Auxiliary Harbor Unit
- Southern Region: Master Officer Ashley Griffin, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
- Western Region: Kosette Seibert, Alaska Office of Boating Safety
National Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year
- Kosette Seibert, Alaska Office of Boating Safety
Regional Boating Officers of the Year
- Northern Region: Conservation Officer Jarred Coffing, Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Law Enforcement Division
- Southern Region: Lieutenant Jason Russo, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
- Western Region: Deputy Charles Trescher, Mohave County Sheriff's Office
National Boating Officer of the Year
- Lieutenant Jason Russo, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Click here to learn more about the National Boating Officer of the Year.
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.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators would like to congratulate all of the 2023 national award winners. If you would like to learn more about the awards or this year’s recipients, please click here.
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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.