Blogs

2026 NASBLA Awards Ceremony Honors Industry Leaders

By Taylor Kirshe posted 3 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
2026 NASBLA Awards Ceremony Honors Industry Leaders The 67th Annual NASBLA Conference was held Sept. 15-17, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 17, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its annual national awards, recognizing individuals and organizations across the recreational boating safety community for their outstanding contributions, leadership and commitment to advancing boating and water safety nationwide. The following individuals and organizations were honored by NASBLA during the 2026 awards ceremony. John M. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award ...
0 comments

NASBLA Names Corporal Adam Kimbrough the 2026 National Boating Officer of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 3 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
NASBLA Names Corporal Adam Kimbrough the 2026 National Boating Officer of the Year Corporal Adam Kimbrough of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division has been named the 2026 recipient of the Marvin “Butch” Potts National Boating Officer of the Year Award, recognizing his outstanding commitment to boating safety enforcement, public safety and service to Georgia’s boating community. Kimbrough was honored Thursday, Sept. 17, during the awards ceremony at the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Annual Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sponsored by SAFE Boats International ...
0 comments

Connecticut’s Wendy Flynn Named 2026 National Boating Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 3 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Connecticut’s Wendy Flynn Named 2026 National Boating Educator of the Year Gwendolynn “Wendy” Flynn of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has been named the 2026 recipient of the National Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award, recognizing more than two decades of dedication to boating safety education, public outreach and environmental stewardship. Flynn was honored Thursday, Sept. 17, during the awards ceremony at the 2026 National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Annual Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises Inc. , the Pamela S. ...
0 comments

Award Winners Honored at the 67th Annual NASBLA Conference

By Taylor Kirshe posted 3 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Award Winners Honored at the 67th Annual NASBLA Conference The 67th Annual NASBLA Conference was held Sept. 15-17, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 17, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its annual national awards, recognizing individuals and organizations across the recreational boating safety community for their outstanding contributions, leadership and commitment to advancing boating and water safety nationwide. John M. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award Established in 1998, the John M. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes individuals ...
0 comments

NASBLA Mourns the Loss of Former Nevada Boating Law Administrator and NASBLA President Fred Messmann

By Garrison Toy posted 4 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
NASBLA Mourns the Loss of Former Nevada Boating Law Administrator and NASBLA President Fred Messmann Fred Messmann, 79, a stalwart of the recreational boating safety community and former president of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026. Messmann began his conservation and public safety career in 1978 with the Nevada Department of Wildlife as a game warden. During his tenure, he became Nevada's boating law administrator, leading a comprehensive overhaul of the Nevada Boat Act and emerging as one of the nation's leading voices in recreational boating safety. Within NASBLA, Messmann ...
0 comments

2026 Operation Dry Water Awards Recognize Excellence in BUI Enforcement and Boating Safety

By Taylor Kirshe posted 8 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
October 9, 2026: The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) honored the 2026 Operation Dry Water (ODW) award recipients Thursday, Sept. 17, during the NASBLA Annual Conference in Knoxville, Tennessee. Awards were presented for Officer of the Year, Regional Law Enforcement and Media Outreach, recognizing outstanding achievements in boating under the influence (BUI) enforcement, education and public outreach. The annual awards honor law enforcement officers and agencies whose dedication to preventing impaired boating and promoting recreational boating safety has made a significant impact on waterways nationwide. This year's ...
0 comments

Partnership is Prevention: Identifying New Partners Through Local Harbor Safety Committees

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Partnership is Prevention: Identifying New Partners Through Local Harbor Safety Committees Noel Jones, USCG Harbor Safety Committee Program Manager In our nation’s ports, local Harbor Safety Committees (HSCs) play a role in addressing safety concerns within our waterways and they can be a vital partner for state Boating Law Administrators (BLAs). What is a HSC? Simply put, a HSC is a forum for the different users of a shared waterway to come together to share information and address concerns. What sets HSCs apart from other port-level committees is that these are typically industry or community led and not led by the government. They have ...
0 comments

NASBLA Publishes 2026 Annual Report

By Taylor Kirshe posted 18 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
NASBLA Publishes 2026 Annual Report The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , a national nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to advancing recreational boating safety, has published its 2026 Annual Report . The report highlights the association’s accomplishments over the past year and the collective work of NASBLA’s members, committees, partners and staff to strengthen recreational boating safety nationwide. The 2026 Annual Report provides an overview of NASBLA’s work across its core programs and initiatives, including the Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program , policy committees and task forces, recreational ...
0 comments

Idaho Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 18 days ago
Be the first person to recommend this.
Idaho Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Coby Bishop as Idaho's new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Coby Bishop serves as the Boating Program Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. He is a 1994 graduate of Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in biology. Bishop brings nearly 25 years of law enforcement experience with the National Park Service. His career began in his hometown of Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas, where he served as an interpretive ranger before ...
0 comments

U.S. Virgin Islands Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-26-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

South Carolina Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-26-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

NASBLA’s BOAT Program Introduces National Readiness Database and Currency Reporting Portal

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-24-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

The United States Coast Guard Continues its Year-Long Effort for the 2026 National Recreational Boating Safety Survey

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-21-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

Puerto Rico Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 08-18-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

NASBLA Celebrates Pamela S. Dillon’s Induction Into Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame

By Garrison Toy posted 08-11-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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, ...
0 comments

Vermont Passes New Cold-Water Life Jacket Mandate for Boaters

By Garrison Toy posted 06-24-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2026 Educator of the Year Award

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

Josh Hoffman Honored as NASBLA 2026 Western Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

NASBLA Names Louisiana’s Sgt. John Miller 2026 Southern Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments

Connecticut’s Gwendolynn Flynn Named NASBLA 2026 Northern Region Educator of the Year

By Garrison Toy posted 06-17-2026
Be the first person to recommend this.
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 ...
0 comments