Blogs

U.S. Virgin Islands Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 18 days ago
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U.S. Virgin Islands Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to welcome Ramón McIntosh as the U.S. Virgin Islands’ new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Ramón McIntosh is a native of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, where he developed an early appreciation for his community and the natural resources that make the islands unique. McIntosh earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Inter American University of Puerto Rico in San Germán, Puerto Rico. After spending eight years living and studying in Puerto Rico, he returned to St. Croix in 2008 to begin a career ...
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South Carolina Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 18 days ago
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South Carolina Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) welcomes Captain Lee Ellis as the new boating law administrator (BLA) for the state of South Carolina. As Boating Law Administrator, Captain Ellis will serve as South Carolina's primary representative and point of coordination for boating law administration, boating safety enforcement, and related initiatives at the state, regional, and national levels. He will work with state and federal partners, boating safety organizations, and law enforcement agencies to advance boating safety and enforcement initiatives throughout South ...
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NASBLA’s BOAT Program Introduces National Readiness Database and Currency Reporting Portal

By Taylor Kirshe posted 20 days ago
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NASBLA’s BOAT Program Introduces National Readiness Database and Currency Reporting Portal NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program has introduced the National Readiness Database (NRD), a new comprehensive operational readiness system designed to provide a clearer national picture of BOAT Program-trained maritime personnel and maintained capability. Historically, course completion records have shown who received training, but they have not consistently shown whether those skills were maintained or where current capabilities were located. The NRD addresses that gap by connecting BOAT Program training aligned with the ...
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The United States Coast Guard Continues its Year-Long Effort for the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey

By Taylor Kirshe posted 23 days ago
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The United States Coast Guard Continues its Year-Long Effort for the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey The survey is the only source for recreational boating data in all 50 states and informs about safety and security on the water. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is continuing its year-long data collection effort for the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey (NRBSS), which will provide detailed estimates in every state of how many people go boating, what types of boats they use, and how often they go boating. This survey is funded under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund administered ...
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Puerto Rico Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 26 days ago
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Puerto Rico Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Angel L. Rodriguez as Puerto Rico's new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Rodriguez brings more than two decades of maritime, boating safety and public service experience to the role. He retired from the U.S. Coast Guard after 23 years of active-duty service and previously served as Puerto Rico's Boating Safety Educator and Boating Law Administrator with the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources through the end of 2012. Following his initial tenure with the department, Rodriguez ...
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NASBLA Celebrates Pamela S. Dillon’s Induction Into Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame

By Garrison Toy posted 08-11-2026
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NASBLA Celebrates Pamela S. Dillon’s Induction Into Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) congratulates Pamela S. Dillon on her induction into the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes a distinguished career that began with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and grew into decades of leadership and service in boating safety, education, paddlesports and natural resources. Dillon began her career with ODNR in 1976 and became a state watercraft officer in 1977. She went on to serve as chief of the Division of Watercraft and as Ohio’s boating law administrator, ...
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Vermont Passes New Cold-Water Life Jacket Mandate for Boaters

By Garrison Toy posted 06-24-2026
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Vermont Passes New Cold-Water Life Jacket Mandate for Boaters On June 16, 2026, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed Senate Bill S.326 into law. This annual omnibus transportation bill includes language requiring mandatory life jacket use from Nov. 1 through May 1 each year on Vermont waterways. The new law mandates mandatory wear for individuals on an open deck while the vessel is underway. Through this new law, Vermont joins a majority of states in New England and the Northeast in addressing the risks and often deadly outcomes associated with boating during the cold-water season. Vermont Boating Law Administrator Al Johnson states, “Our goal has always ...
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2026 Educator of the Year Award

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2026 Educator of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 17, 2026) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has named the regional recipients of the 2026 Pamela S. Dillon Educator of the Year Award, sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises Inc . The annual award recognizes boating safety professionals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to recreational boating safety through education, outreach and public engagement. The 2026 regional recipients are: Northern Region: Gwendolynn “Wendy” Flynn, Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection, Boating Division ...
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Josh Hoffman Honored as NASBLA 2026 Western Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
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Josh Hoffman Honored as NASBLA 2026 Western Region Educator of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has recognized Josh Hoffman of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) as the 2026 Western Region Educator of the Year for his leadership in expanding boating safety education and public outreach initiatives across Arizona. For more than a decade, Hoffman has served in Arizona’s Boating Safety Education Program, helping expand boating education opportunities statewide while strengthening partnerships that support safe and responsible outdoor recreation. Hoffman has been instrumental in developing ...
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NASBLA Names Louisiana’s Sgt. John Miller 2026 Southern Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
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NASBLA Names Louisiana’s Sgt. John Miller 2026 Southern Region Educator of the Year Sgt. John Miller of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) has been named the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) 2026 Southern Region Educator of the Year for his longstanding commitment to boating safety education and public outreach across Louisiana. Miller’s impact was perhaps best demonstrated during an emergency incident at Bussy Brake Wildlife Management Area in August 2025. After an elderly boater suffered multiple wasp stings and injuries from a fall aboard his vessel, the man’s 10-year-old grandson ...
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Connecticut’s Gwendolynn Flynn Named NASBLA 2026 Northern Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
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Connecticut’s Gwendolynn Flynn Named NASBLA 2026 Northern Region Educator of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has named Gwendolynn “Wendy” Flynn of the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection’s (DEEP) Boating Division the 2026 Northern Region Educator of the Year. This award recognizes Flynn’s longstanding commitment to boating safety education, public outreach and environmental stewardship throughout Connecticut. Since joining Connecticut’s Boating Division in 2005, Flynn has played a key role in strengthening the state’s boating education and outreach efforts. Her work ...
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2026 Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2026 Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 17, 2026) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) has named the regional recipients of the 2026 Marvin “Butch” Potts Memorial Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award . The annual award recognizes boating law enforcement professionals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism and dedication to advancing recreational boating safety and strengthening enforcement efforts on the nation’s waterways. The 2026 regional recipients are: Northern Region: Conservation ...
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2026 NASBLA Western Region Boating Officer of the Year Award Presented to Sgt. Travis Vessells

By Garrison Toy posted 06-16-2026
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2026 NASBLA Western Region Boating Officer of the Year Award Presented to Sgt. Travis Vessells The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) recognizes Sgt. Travis Vessells of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement Unit as the 2026 Western Region Boating Officer of the Year for his contributions to impaired boating enforcement, marine patrol operations and the advancement of recreational boating safety throughout the West. In 2025, Vessells served as president of the California Boating Safety Officers Association while also leading the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Marine Enforcement ...
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Georgia Game Warden Adam Kimbrough Named 2026 NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-16-2026
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Georgia Game Warden Adam Kimbrough Named 2026 NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) names Game Warden First Class Adam Kimbrough of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division the 2026 Southern Region Officer of the Year for his commitment to advancing boating safety, impaired boating enforcement and boater awareness efforts across Georgia’s waterways. Assigned to Lake Lanier — one of the most heavily visited federal lakes in the United States, drawing approximately 8 million visitors annually — Kimbrough is known for his professionalism, initiative ...
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NASBLA Recognizes Minnesota’s Shawn Wichmann as 2026 Northern Region Officer of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-16-2026
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NASBLA Recognizes Minnesota’s Shawn Wichmann as 2026 Northern Region Officer of the Year The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) names Conservation Officer Shawn Wichmann of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) the 2026 Northern Region Officer of the Year for his leadership in boating safety enforcement, impaired boating prevention and public outreach across southwest Minnesota. Since joining the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources in 2012, Wichmann has built a reputation for proactive enforcement, strong community engagement and a commitment to keeping Minnesota waterways safe. He currently ...
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Keeping Guam Waters Safe During Operation Dry Water

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-11-2026
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June 11, 2026: As the sun rises over the Pacific, the Guam Police Department (GPD) stands ready, literally at the forefront of a national movement. While the rest of the United States remains tucked away in the evening hours of the previous day, Guam’s unique position across the International Date Line means its officers are the first in the nation to kick off the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators’ (NASBLA) Operation Dry Water (ODW) campaign. Guam is officially represented within NASBLA through the GPD Recreational Boating Safety Program. Guam also has a designated Boating Law Administrator who works with NASBLA on boating ...
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Maryland Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 04-21-2026
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Maryland Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to welcome Major Catherine Medellin as Maryland’s new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Maj. Medellin brings more than 28 years of service with the Maryland Natural Resources Police and currently serves as commander of the Community Partnerships and Employee Development Bureau. In this role, she oversees statewide community training, recruitment and outreach initiatives, helping to strengthen trust between law enforcement and the public. Her command includes oversight of the agency’s boater education program, which ...
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NASBLA Mourns the Passing of Christopher Stec, Champion of Boating Safety

By Taylor Kirshe posted 04-15-2026
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NASBLA Mourns the Passing of Christopher Stec, Champion of Boating Safety Christopher Stec (Feb. 19, 1976 – April 4, 2026), of Virginia, passed away at the age of 50. He lived a life defined by service, leadership and an unwavering commitment to boating and water safety. From his roots in south Louisiana to his work in North Carolina and Virginia, Chris built a legacy centered on education, safety and community. He served as director of auxiliary programs at Fredericksburg Academy and was a longtime leader within the American Canoe Association, where he inspired countless individuals through his passion for paddlesports and outdoor learning. His influence ...
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A New Era of Accountability on Connecticut’s Roads and Waterways

By Taylor Kirshe posted 03-19-2026
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March 19, 2026: In 2025, the Connecticut Legislature took a significant step to strengthen public safety by passing Public Act 25-159 . The legislation includes provisions designed to close a long-standing gap between roadway and waterway enforcement. It recognizes a simple but powerful reality: operating under the influence — whether behind the wheel of a car or at the helm of a boat — poses the same serious risks to the public. Under the new law, effective Oct. 1, 2025, the state now requires reciprocal operating suspensions for individuals convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) or boating under the influence (BUI). This means a suspension ...
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NASBLA and NDAA Collaborate to Strengthen BUI Prosecution

By Garrison Toy posted 03-11-2026
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Boating under the influence (BUI) enforcement is more than a legal obligation — it is a lifesaving mission. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers serve a vital role in upholding boating safety laws aimed at preventing loss of life, injury and property damage. By approaching BUI cases with the same diligence applied to DUI offenses, you help deter dangerous behavior, influence public perception and safeguard families from the tragic consequences of impaired boating. To support this effort, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) partnered to deliver a series of in-person ...
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