LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 8, 2016) - After seven years with National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) as the Director of the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program, Mark DuPont will be leaving NASBLA to pursue opportunities in the private sector in order to expand his skills, knowledge and maritime expertise.
Although he is moving on from his role as NASBLA’s BOAT Program Director, he is not leaving the mission and purpose of the BOAT Program. Dedicated to enhancing the safety and security of America’s waterways for the last sixteen years, Mark will still be connected and involved as he looks to advocate for training goals and to establish standards on a global seascape.
“From the beginning, Mark has made significant contributions to the organization, and to the nation’s maritime domain,” said John Fetterman, NASBLA’s Deputy Executive Director. “From the moment we met in 2004, while Mark was on active duty delivering training to my agency and partners in Maine, we have shared a common vision of standardizing training among federal, state and local marine law enforcement and emergency rescue personnel.” Through Mark’s early relationship with NASBLA and with the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces, a partnership was born in 2009 and the foundation of the BOAT Program was established. Through his experience in training with the Coast Guard and with the State of Florida, a cadre of qualified and skilled instructors were “made ready” and prepared to launch the program in 2010. Over the past seven years, his organizational, administrative and leadership skills have helped NASBLA grow the program to more than 150 instructors, delivering over 60 courses (annually) to more than 7,000 maritime law enforcement officers and first responders.
Under Mark’s leadership, the BOAT Program reached many milestones, including expansion of the BOAT catalog to offer 15 distinct course curricula, development of a National Instructor Credentialing Program to ensure the integrity of BOAT course delivery, implementation of a BOAT Advisory Board, creation of a BOAT Accreditation Program that allows agencies and organizations to lower training costs through self-sustaining, in-house training expertise, and recognition from the USCG as a national standard of training, typingand credentialing for maritime law enforcement officers and emergency responders. In addition to these accomplishments, the BOAT Program has also been cited for national awards and recognition including receipt of the Bright Idea Award and the Top 25 Award through the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and recipient of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) highly coveted Power of A, Summit Award.
“What we have achieved is a testament to Mark’s ability to identify the critical training needs of the maritime law enforcement and public safety community, and lead collaborative resources to meet those needs and solve problems,” said Fetterman. “Mark has advanced the performance and improved the competencies and capabilities of the public safety professionals that patrol and protect our Nation’s waterways and critical maritime infrastructure.”
Mark’s last day with NASBLA will be Friday, November 11th. During the following transitional weeks, our BOAT Program Coordinator, Dave Considine, will assume the responsibilities of the BOAT Program Director in an acting capacity.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit 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. NASBLA offers a variety of resources, including training, model acts, education standards and publications. Through a national network of thousands of professional educators, law enforcement officers and volunteers, the organization affects the lives of over 76 million American boaters. To learn more about how NASBLA continues to make the waterways safe, secure and enjoyable, visit http://www.nasbla.org.