Guess elected president of national boating safety and security organization
During its 58th annual meeting, held in Rapid City, S.D., Sept. 10-13, 2017, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Tom Guess, Virginia’s boating law administrator, as president of the nonprofit organization for the 2017-2018 year. He succeeds Stephanie Weatherington, Arkansas’ boating law administrator.
Tom Guess serves as the Legislative and Policy Manager, and the State Boating Law Administrator for the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. Tom manages the agency's legislative efforts including coordination with the Executive Director, the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Secretary of Natural Resources, the Office of the Attorney General, key agency staff and stakeholder organizations and legislators. He provides oversight of the analyses of the impacts of proposed legislation, provides support to the Executive Director during the General Assembly Session, and participates in committee meetings and legislative visits.
In his role as the State Boating Law Administrator, Tom represents the Commonwealth on a state, regional, and national basis to ensure Virginia's collaboration and participation on boating safety laws, issues, and policy are being addressed nationally. He is the primary liaison with the U. S. Coast Guard, U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U. S. Power Squadrons, Virginia Marine Trades Association, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Virginia Safe Boating Alliance, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA), National Safe Boating Council, other state/local governments, and boating safety partners. He helps manage and oversee the agency boating funds and the Federal Recreational Boating Safety Grant.
Tom began his career with Department in 2008 after retiring from a 21 year career with the U.S. Coast Guard, with his last assignment as the Officer in Charge of Coast Guard Station Milford Haven in Mathews County. Tom spent the majority of his Coast Guard career working in law enforcement, search and rescue, and maritime environmental operations, and in leadership and command roles at small boat stations.
Other officers of the association serving with Guess include:
• Vice President – Mark Brown, Oklahoma Highway Patrol
• Treasurer – Cody Jones, Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife
• Member-at-Large – Tim Dunleavy, New Hampshire Department of Safety
• Member-at-Large – Kenton Turner, Indiana Department of Natural Resources
• Member-at-Large – Dan Hesket, Kansas Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
• Immediate Past President – Stephanie Weatherington, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission