Alaska Boating Law Administrator Elected NASBLA Chair
During its 65th Annual Conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sept. 17 – 19, 2024, the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Joe McCullough, Boating Law Administrator for Alaska, as chair of the organization for the 2024-2025 year. He succeeds Lt. Curtis Lewis, Illinois’ Boating Law Administrator. NASBLA 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.
Joe McCullough has spent 32 years with the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, starting as a volunteer at Kachemak Bay State Park. He went on to serve as a park ranger in Anchor Point and along the Kenai River. In 2002, McCullough was appointed Education Coordinator for the Alaska Boating Safety Program, and in 2015, he attended the NASBLA Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Leadership Academy in Lexington, Kentucky.
An experienced educator, McCullough is a nationally certified boating safety instructor, National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) boat control instructor trainer, and an instructor with the Alaska Police Standards Council. He has contributed to multiple NASBLA committees, including Education & Outreach, Enforcement & Training, Engineering, Reporting & Analysis (ERAC), and Finance & Grants.
McCullough has served as Alaska’s Boating Law Administrator (BLA) since 2019, representing the state to NASBLA and advocating for boating safety initiatives. As a member of the NASBLA Executive Board, he plays a critical role in advancing recreational boating safety nationwide through education, enforcement, training, and policy development, benefiting all states and territories.
Other
members of the board serving with Joe McCullough include:
- Vice Chair – Aaron Kerr, Wyoming Game & Fish Department
- Treasurer – Wanda Roberts, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- Board Member – Curt Lewis, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Office of Law Enforcement
- Board Member – Matt Majors, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Board Member – Chris Jones, New Jersey State Police
- Board Member – David Trader, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources