Blogs

Wisconsin Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 3 days ago
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Wisconsin Names New Boating Law Adminsitrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to welcome Lieutenant John Sinclair as Wisconsin's new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Lt. John Sinclair began his career in 2012 as a conservation warden in Kenosha County, where he developed a strong appreciation for his time on Lake Michigan. Over the years, he advanced his boat operation and enforcement skills, joined the Tactical Boat Team (now the Specialized Boat Operations Team), completed multiple NASBLA trainings, and became an instructor for new recruits at the agency’s Boat School. He later promoted to ...
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NASBLA Publishes 2025 Annual Report

By Taylor Kirshe posted 20 days ago
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NASBLA Publishes 2025 Annual Report The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety, has released its 2025 Annual Report . The report covers a variety of accomplishments achieved by NASBLA and its members, stemming from NASBLA policy committees, grant projects, annual events, national awards and more. NASBLA represents the recreational boating authorities of all U.S. states and territories. "Each year brings its own challenges and opportunities, and 2025 has been an exceptional year in NASBLA’s 65-year history," ...
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National Paddlesports Committee Honors 12 Companies for Promoting Paddling Safety Online

By Taylor Kirshe posted 23 days ago
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National Paddlesports Committee Honors 12 Companies for Promoting Paddling Safety Online Lexington, KY — The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , in partnership with its Paddlesports Committee, proudly announces the inaugural recipients of the 2025 National Paddlesports Committee Honors (NPCH). This new recognition celebrates paddlesports manufacturers, retailers, and liveries that demonstrate a strong commitment to paddling safety through their digital content. The honors were announced during the 66 th Annual NASBLA Conference, with recipients recognized at the Paddlesports Trade Coalition event in Charlotte, ...
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2025 NASBLA Awards Ceremony Honors Industry Leaders

By Taylor Kirshe posted 29 days ago
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2025 NASBLA Awards Ceremony Honors Industry Leaders The 66th Annual NASBLA Conference took place in Des Moines, Iowa, from Sept. 16-18, 2025. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 18, NASBLA presented its annual national awards, honoring members and colleagues in the recreational boating safety community for their exceptional contributions to boating and water safety. This year, NASBLA recognized 17 award winners at the event. John M. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award Pamela J. Doty , U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chair’s Award Angela Boone , National Association of State Boating Law Administrators ...
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NASBLA Names Senior Trooper Jacob Manning the 2025 National Boating Officer of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 29 days ago
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NASBLA Names Senior Trooper Jacob Manning the 2025 National Boating Officer of the Year During its 66th Annual Meeting, held Sept. 16–18, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) presented its prestigious National Boating Officer of the Year award, sponsored by SAFE Boats International , to Senior Trooper Jacob Manning of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, Department of Public Safety Marine Patrol Division. The National Boating Officer of the Year award recognizes a law enforcement officer who has made outstanding contributions to boating safety through enforcement and exemplary ...
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Annie Grenier Recognized as the 2025 NASBLA National Boating Educator of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 29 days ago
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Annie Grenier Recognized as the 2025 NASBLA National Boating Educator of the Year The 2025 National Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year award was presented to Annie Grenier of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Office of Boating Safety, on Thursday, Sept. 18, during the awards ceremony at the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Annual Conference in Des Moines, Iowa. Sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises Inc. , the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year award was established by NASBLA in 2011 to recognize individuals who go above and beyond to engage students and boaters, raise ...
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Award Winners Honored at the 66th Annual NASBLA Conference

By Taylor Kirshe posted 29 days ago
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Award Winners Honored at the 66th Annual NASBLA Conference The 66th Annual NASBLA Conference took place in Des Moines, Iowa, from Sept. 16-18, 2025. During the awards ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 18, NASBLA presented its annual national awards, honoring members and colleagues in the recreational boating safety community for their exceptional contributions to boating and water safety. This year, NASBLA recognized 17 award winners at the event. John M. Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award NASBLA first began presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1998. This award is designed to recognize a person who has contributed to boating safety ...
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Josh Hoffman Achieves Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) Certification

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10-06-2025
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Josh Hoffman Achieves Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) Certification The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) proudly recognizes Josh Hoffman of the Arizona Game & Fish Department for successfully earning the Certified Recreational Boating Professional (CRBP) credential. Hoffman passed the CRBP exam on June 15, demonstrating his expertise and commitment to advancing boating safety. The CRBP certification, developed by NASBLA, is a voluntary credential designed to recognize recreational boating professionals for their knowledge, performance, and career achievements across key program domains. ...
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New Jersey Boating Law Administrator Elected NASBLA Chair

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10-06-2025
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New Jersey Boating Law Administrator Elected NASBLA Chair The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Executive Board has elected Lieutenant Christopher Jones, Boating Law Administrator for New Jersey, as chair of the organization for the 2025-2026 year. His election took place Sept. 30, 2025, during the first meeting of the NASBLA Executive Board following the association’s annual conference, in accordance with the bylaws. Jones succeeds Joe McCullough, Boating Law Administrator for Alaska. NASBLA is a national nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. NASBLA ...
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Nebraska Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10-06-2025
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Nebraska Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) would like to welcome Major Mike Thome, the new Boating Law Administrator (BLA) for the state of Nebraska. Major Mike Thome brings more than 25 years of experience in law enforcement and natural resource protection. He currently serves as Assistant Division Administrator for the Law Enforcement Division of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. On Sept. 1, 2025, he was appointed Nebraska’s Boating Law Administrator, a role that builds on his long-standing commitment to public safety and outdoor recreation stewardship. His ...
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National Boating Standards Panel Seeking Applicants

By Taylor Kirshe posted 10-06-2025
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National Boating Standards Panel Seeking Applicants The National Boating Standards Panel (BSP) is seeking applications for new members to serve terms beginning in January 2025. Panel members serve three-year terms and represent one of five interest categories: commercial, non-governmental/nonprofit organization, federal boating agency, state boating agency and public. BSP is currently seeking qualified applicants to fill vacancies in the Commercial (1), Public (2) and State Boating Agency (1) categories . While applications are accepted year-round, the deadline to be considered for these openings is Oct. 13, 2025. Apply here . The ...
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NASBLA & SAFE Boats International Announce Mission Partnership to Advance Maritime Public Safety Training

By Taylor Kirshe posted 09-30-2025
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NASBLA & SAFE Boats International Announce Mission Partnership to Advance Maritime Public Safety Training Lexington, KY & Bremerton, WA – [Sept. 30, 2025] – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and SAFE Boats International , a 100% employee-owned American boatbuilder, today announced a partnership designating SAFE Boats as the exclusive boatbuilding Mission Partner for NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) Program. This partnership will expand the resources, visibility, and support for the thousands of officers, first responders, and emergency professionals who rely on BOAT Program training ...
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NASBLA Elects 2025–2026 Executive Board

By Taylor Kirshe posted 09-24-2025
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NASBLA Elects 2025–2026 Executive Board At the 2025 NASBLA Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, September 17, Boating Law Administrators elected the members of the 2025–2026 NASBLA Executive Board. NASBLA congratulates the new board members and thanks them for their dedication to leading and serving the association. 2025–2026 NASBLA Executive Board: Joe McCullough, Alaska Danny Rodriguez, Arizona Jason Russo, Louisiana Chris Jones, New Jersey Matt Majors, Tennessee Stacey Brown, Virginia David Trader, West Virginia The NASBLA Executive Board guides the overall direction of the association, overseeing policies, programs, and ...
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NASBLA and NDAA Partner to Strengthen BUI Prosecution Training

By Taylor Kirshe posted 07-23-2025
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NASBLA and NDAA Partner to Strengthen BUI Prosecution Training On July 16, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) , in collaboration with the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) , hosted a specialized training event at NASBLA headquarters in Lexington, Kentucky. The session, Navigating the Waters of a BUI Prosecution, was also live streamed to a national audience, allowing broader participation from law enforcement officers and prosecutors across the country. This initiative, produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, is part ...
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Louisiana Names New Boating Law Administrator

By Taylor Kirshe posted 07-07-2025
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Louisiana Names New Boating Law Administrator The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is excited to welcome Captain Jason Russo as Louisiana's new Boating Law Administrator (BLA). Capt. Russo will oversee the department’s efforts to promote safe and responsible recreational boating across the state. Capt. Russo, a 24-year veteran of the LDWF Enforcement Division, brings a wealth of experience and national recognition to his new role. On Dec. 5, 2024, he became the first LDWF agent to earn NASBLA’s prestigious Certified Recreational Boating Professional certification—an advanced credential that recognizes professional ...
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NASBLA Announces Regional Winners of the 2025 Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-25-2025
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NASBLA Announces Regional Winners of the 2025 Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2025) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is pleased to announce the 2025 regional recipients of the Pamela S. Dillon Boating Educator of the Year Award, generously sponsored by Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc . Established by NASBLA in 2011, this prestigious award recognizes educators who demonstrate exceptional commitment to engaging students and boaters, raising awareness, and delivering innovative, comprehensive, and impactful boating education programs. Each NASBLA member state ...
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2025 Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-25-2025
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NASBLA Names Regional Winners of the 2025 Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 25, 2025) – The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) is proud to recognize the 2025 regional recipients of the Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award . This distinguished honor celebrates the exceptional dedication and professionalism of boating law enforcement officers throughout the United States. The selection process began in January 2025, with NASBLA inviting nominations from states and territories for their outstanding boating law enforcement officers. ...
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Alaska’s Annie Grenier Honored as NASBLA Western Region Educator of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-25-2025
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Alaska’s Annie Grenier Honored as NASBLA Western Region Educator of the Year Annie Grenier, education coordinator for the Alaska Office of Boating Safety , has been named the 2025 Western Region Educator of the Year by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . Grenier, who joined the Alaska Office of Boating Safety in 2016, has significantly expanded the state’s boating safety outreach. She expanded the Kids Don’t Float program to reach more than 100,000 children, including 12,654 students in 2024 alone. Nearly 100 teens have graduated as youth instructors through the program’s ambassador initiative, empowering ...
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Senior Ranger Travis Bernstein Named 2025 NASBLA Western Region Boating Officer of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-25-2025
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Senior Ranger Travis Bernstein Named 2025 NASBLA Western Region Boating Officer of the Year Senior Ranger Travis Bernstein of the Larimer County Department of Natural Resources has been named the 2025 Western Region Boating Officer of the Year by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . For the past two and a half years, Bernstein has led Larimer County’s boating program with exceptional dedication to public and staff safety on Colorado’s waterways. His leadership, innovative training initiatives, and commitment to excellence in marine safety have set a high standard for boating law enforcement. ...
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NASBLA Names Hunter Wisecarver 2025 Southern Region Educator of the Year

By Taylor Kirshe posted 06-24-2025
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NASBLA Names Hunter Wisecarver 2025 Southern Region Educator of the Year Hunter Wisecarver, a boating officer with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) , has been named the 2025 Southern Region Educator of the Year by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . Wisecarver serves in TWRA’s District 42, which covers 10 counties in eastern Tennessee and includes several major reservoirs and river systems. Though primarily assigned to Douglas Lake, Wisecarver routinely patrols a wide range of regional waterways, including the Holston, Nolichucky, Pigeon, French Broad, and Watauga rivers. ...
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