Pamela Dillon is a career‐long boating professional, retiring in May 2011 as chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft. Within the Division of Watercraft, she held many positions, including BLA; commissioned state watercraft officer; Special Programs, Public Information and Education Manager; and Deputy Chief. During a five‐year break in service from the state of Ohio, Dillon served as executive director of the American Canoe Association (2002‐07), working to develop strategic alliances with boating, outdoor recreation, and paddlesports education programs across the U.S. and Canada.
Dillon served two terms as a public member of the National Boating Safety Advisory Council to the United States Coast Guard (2005‐11), participating as an objective leader for development of the Strategic Plan of the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. Additional national levels of service include Education Committee chair for NASBLA, founding member of the Board of Governors for the International Whitewater Hall of Fame, and twoterm chair and 20‐year board member of the National Safe Boating Council. She is also the recipient of numerous national awards, including the National Safe Boating Council’s Hall of Fame, NASBLA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, three U.S. Coast Guard Public Service awards, the United Safe Boating Institute’s Silver Schooner Award, the American Canoe Association’s Outstanding Instructor Award, and the US Canoe Association's International Conservation Award.