As most of you know, effective June 1st, BSA is transitioning away from Regions and Areas in favor of 16 new National Service Territories. These Territories are structured rather differently from Areas or Regions – at the Territory level, there is minimal staff and no board or committee structure. I think this new structure will be a favorable change for Sea Scouts – people operating at the territory level are connected both to National and to the Councils, and the focus is on coordinating activities between the councils – but it will take some adjustment.
With this change, the term of service of our Regional and Area Commodores and their Committee Members has come to an end. These people have done incredible things for Sea Scouts, and I want to thank all of them for their service, especially the four Regional Commodores – Ben Feril, Tom McMullen, Curt Ware and Kathy Weydig. I’m pleased to inform you that all four are continuing with Sea Scouts in various capacities.
Each of the new Territories will have a Territory Sea Scout Coordinator (which in accordance with tradition we’ll call Commodores). These Territory Commodores will officially report to the National Sea Scout Committee but will support Sea Scouts in their respective territories. This model is consistent with the coordinator role held by most volunteers working at the territory level.
Each territory also has a Territory Boatswain, the senior youth leader for Sea Scouts in the territory. These Boatswains will report primarily to the National Boatswain, but will work in partnership with the Territory Commodores.
I’m really pleased with the lineup of Territory Commodores and Territory Boatswains – we’ve recruited some fine people, and I am excited to see where they take Sea Scouts this year. I am proud to introduce them to you in the section below. I’ll include a list of councils in each Territory (which I believe is accurate but which might still be subject to change) so you can figure out where you are. Maps of the new Territories can be found here. If you need to contact your Commodore or Boatswain and don’t have their email addresses, you can use the contact us link at the bottom of any page on seascout.org. If you need to reach me, the same mechanism works, but you can also email me at national.commodore at scouting.org.
Please join me in welcoming these Boatswains and Commodores!
– T.W. Cook, National Commodore
National Service Territory 1
Territory 1 consists of Blue Mountain Council, Cascade Pacific Council, Chief Seattle Council, Crater Lake Council, Far East Council, Grand Columbia Council, Grand Teton Council, Great Alaska Council, Inland Northwest Council, Midnight Sun Council, Mount Baker Council, Mountain West Council, Oregon Trail Council, and Pacific Harbors Council.
Luna is from Port Angeles, Washington and a member of Ship 1212 in the Chief Seattle Council. She is currently the Ship’s Media Specialist and Fleet Boatswain for the Chief Seattle Council. She is an Apprentice Sea Scout with achievements in marksmanship and plans to attend NYLT this summer. Luna is a high school junior and captain of her school’s sailing team. She is working towards studying in marine sciences and plans to join the NOAA Corps after college.
Neal continues to be highly active in his Ship 202 (Déjà vu in the Cascade Pacific Council) as a Mate and contributes as a Vice Commodore at the council level. Training has been a focus and he has staffed and been course director of Wood Badge, Sea Badge and SEAL courses. He has received his Vigil, Skippers Key, Area 1 Western Region Sea Scout Leadership Award and Silver Beaver. Neal is a Senior Navigator and past District Commander in the America’s Boating Club (US Power Squadrons).
National Service Territory 2
Territory 2 consists of Catalina Council, Conquistador Council, Crossroads of the West, Denver Area Council, Grand Canyon Council, Great Southwest Council, Greater Wyoming-Longs Peak Council, Las Vegas Area Council, Montana Council, Nevada Area Council, Pikes Peak Council, Rocky Mountain Council, and Yucca Council.
Matthew is an Apprentice Sea Scout from Ship 444 in the Denver Area Council. Matthew is currently serving as the DAC Boatswain’s Mate for Administration. Matthew is an Eagle Scout and a Brotherhood Member in the Order of the Arrow. Matthew is also the Tahosa Lodge’s Vice Chief of Activities and had an opportunity to help with Momentum Discover. Matthew is currently a sophomore in high school and is excited to expand Sea Scouts throughout Territory 2
Sheldon Allred, of Mesa AZ, has been a scout from Cub up to Sea Scout Volunteer. He has served in many areas of scouting including Pack, Troop, Team, Crew and Ship positions and Commissioner Service, and recently served as Western Region Area 6 Commodore. His training and recognitions include Wood Badge and Seabadge participant and staff, Doctor of Commissioner Science, Distinguished Commissioner, James E. West, Youth and Adult religious, William D Boyce, the Area Sea Scout Leadership Award and the Silver Beaver award.
National Service Territory 3
Territory 3 consists of Aloha Council, California Inland Empire Council, Golden Empire Council, Golden Gate Area, Greater Los Angeles Area, Greater Yosemite Council, Long Beach Area Council, Los Padres Council, Marin Council, Orange County Council, Pacific Skyline Council, Piedmont Council, Redwood Empire Council, San Diego Imperial Council, Sequoia Council, Silicon Valley Monterey Bay, Southern Sierra Council, Ventura County Council, Verdugo Hills Council, and W.L.A.C.C.
Amelie is an Ordinary Sea Scout with Ship 100 Viking in San Francisco. She is a sophomore in high school and has been a part of Ship 100 for two years. As an active member of her scouting community, Amelie is a part of the Golden Gate Council Quarterdeck. Recently, she joined Scouts BSA with the goal of earning the Eagle Scout award. Amelie hopes to be a Quartermaster Sea Scout and an Eagle Scout.
Kris Leverich most recently served as the Western Region Area 3 Commodore. A prior Cub and Boy Scout, Kris began Sea Scouting in 1986 in Ship 33 of Redwood City California, attaining Quartermaster in 1994. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1996 and earned a commission at Officer Candidate School in 2005. While assigned in New London CT, Kris was a co-founder of Ship 584 in Groton, and completed Seabadge with the Northeast Region in 2008.
After transferring to the San Francisco Bay Area, Kris served as the Alameda Council Commodore from 2014 to 2017. In 2017, Kris was awarded the Sea Scout Leadership Award (Area) and began his tenure as the WR Area 3 Commodore, focusing on leader development and program engagement with Councils, prior to retiring as a Lieutenant Commander in 2019.
National Service Territory 4
Territory 4 consists of Black Hills Area Council, Central Minnesota, Chippewa Valley Council, Gamehaven, Gateway Area, Hawkeye Area Council, Illowa Council, Mid Iowa Council, Northeast Iowa Council, Northern Lights Council, Northern Star Council, Sioux Council, Twin Valley Council, Voyageurs Area, and Winnebago Council
Caleb Smith is the Boatswain and founding member of Ship 202 which focuses on motor boating and paddling along the Mississippi River in Minnesota. He is an Eagle Scout, a recipient of the Gold Congressional Award, the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, and the Northern Star Council Sea Scout Leadership Award. Caleb is a published author and entrepreneur who loves getting youth engaged in service-learning. He’s a sophomore in high school committed to his goal of earning Quartermaster.
Dr. Battis joined Scouting as a youth, then re-joined as an adult leader with his son, leading to a broad range of accomplishments in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was a mate in Ship 248 and formed and was the Skipper of Ship 67. Later he became Central Region Area 1 Commodore, serving on several Seabadge staffs. He is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, and the Area Sea Scout Leadership Award. He remains active in the Power Squadron, USA Archery as an Olympic level coach as well as the NRA in doing various training events.
National Service Territory 5
Territory 5 consists of Cornhusker Council, Coronado Area Council, Great Rivers Council, Greater St. Louis Area Council, Heart of America Council, Jayhawk Area Council, Mid-America Council, Overland Trails, Ozark Trails Council, Pony Express Council, Quivira Council, and Santa Fe Trail Council
Kameron is an Apprentice Sea Scout with ship 3303 the SSS AD Astra and is the current Mid America Council Boatswain. Kameron is also an Eagle Scout and is currently working on his Venturing Summit Award. He is a proud Vigil member of Kit-Ke-Hak-O-Kut Lodge #97 where he works as a chapter chief and youth head of kitchen. Kameron just graduated high school and is unbelievably excited for the future of Territory 5 Sea Scouts.
Paul came to Sea Scouts after five successful years as a Cubmaster. Paul presently serves in Sea Scout Ship 7007 Soaring Eagle (Kansas City Power Squadron), as Committee Chair for Troop 396 (Heart of America Council), as a Committee Member in Aviation Explorer Post 8000 (Heart of America Council) and until recently as Central Region Area 5 Sea Scout Commodore.
National Service Territory 6
Territory 6 consists of Abraham Lincoln Council, Bay-Lakes Council, Blackhawk Area, Glaciers Edge Council, Mississippi Valley Council, Northeast Illinois, Pathway to Adventure, Potawatomi Area Council, Prairielands, Rainbow Council, Samoset Council, Three Fires Council, Three Harbors Council, and W D Boyce
Tessa is the former Central Region Area 1 Boatswain. Tessa (high school class of 2022) is a Lifeguard, swim instructor, member of the Inaugural Class of Female Eagle Scouts, and is working towards Quartermaster. She will attend SEAL this Summer. She has earned her Basic Keelboat Sailing Certification from the American Sailing Association and was invited to compete in the Koch Cup in 2019. She is competing this summer for the 2022 Koch Cup.
Curt has held a variety of roles in Scouting – including Den Leader, Cubmaster, Committee Chair, Assistant Scoutmaster, Venturing Crew Advisor, Charter Organization Rep, District Committee Member, Sea Scout Regional Membership Chair and most recently Central Region Commodore. He is a recipient of Doctorate of Commissioner Science, Silver Beaver, Regional Sea Scout Leadership Award, Whitney Young Jr, among others.
National Service Territory 7
Territory 7 consists of Alamo Area Council, Bay Area Council, Buffalo Trail Council, Calcasieu Area Council, Capitol Area Council, Evangeline Area, Istrouma Area Council, Louisiana Purchase Council, Norwela Council, Rio Grande Council, Sam Houston Area Council, South Texas Council, Southeast Louisiana Council, Texas Southwest Council, Texas Trails Council, and Three Rivers Council
Jewell comes from Houston, Texas and Ship 502 “Invincible”. She is currently serving as Boatswain for the Sam Houston Area Council. She is an Ordinary Sea Scout and Life Scout on the edge of earning Able and Eagle! Jewell was recently awarded the Council Leadership Award for her work in the fleet, OA, and NYLT. This fall, Jewell will be a high school senior and is looking to study Cyber Security and International Relations in college.
Tom Trefny is from Capitol Area Council, and has been involved in scouting since 2004 when his oldest son joined Cub Scout Pack 165 in Round Rock, TX. Tom served in leadership roles in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts before becoming Skipper of Sea Scout Ship 911 in Georgetown, TX from 2014 to 2019. As Skipper, he encouraged the youth to achieve greater endeavors including: National Flagship Fleet (2015-2019), 2015 Texas Flagship, 5 Quartermasters, 12 SEAL graduates, 1 Council Boatswain, 2 Area Boatswains, 2 Regional Boatswains and 1 National Boatswain. For the past 2 years, worked with commodores and ship leaders in Southern and Western Regions to recover ships, provided regular updates on ship recharters, and aided new ship leaders.
National Service Territory 8
Territory 8 consists of Arbuckle Area Council, Caddo Area Council, Cherokee Area Council, Cimarron Council, Circle Ten Council, De Soto Area Council, East Texas Area Council, Golden Spread Council, Indian Nations Council, Last Frontier Council, Longhorn Council, Northwest Texas Council, Quapaw Area Council, South Plains Council, and Westark Area Council
Erica is an Able Sea Scout in the Sam Houston Area Council and will be attending the University of North Texas this Fall. She has been a Ship Boatswain for one full term and was re-elected. Erica has organized and executed both in-person and virtual Long Cruises to help rank advance younger Sea Scouts. She has been recognized with the Council Sea Scout Leadership Award. Erica plans to pursue a musical career in vocal performance while simultaneously staying involved in scouting.
Brian Ehrler, from Longhorn Council, we was a scouting parent until 2013 when his oldest son joined Troop 1703.
He served as troop committee chairman, went to Philmont with the troop and is a Brotherhood Member of the Order of the Arrow. Brian started Ship 626 in 2016 and served as Skipper through 2021. He is a graduate of Wood Badge and Seabadge and is a Climbing Instructor. He has served on several Seabadge staffs and was Course Director in 2020. He has also been Roundtable Commissioner and District Committee Chair and Vice Chair.
National Service Territory 9
Territory 9 consists of Anthony Wayne Area, Black Swamp Area Council, Buckeye Council, Buffalo Trace, Crossroads Of America, Dan Beard Council, Erie Shores Council, Great Trail, Hoosier Trails Council, Lake Erie Council, LaSalle Council, Miami Valley Council, Michigan Crossroads, Muskingum Valley Council, Sagamore Council, Simon Kenton Council, and Tecumseh
Spencer is an Ordinary Sea Scout with Ship 717 of the Dan Beard Council. He currently serves as the Ship Boatswain. He is an Eagle Scout, a Law Enforcement Explorer with a local police department, and a Pathfinder Venturer. He is attending SEAL Galveston and is leading a Kodiak Challenge Trek at Philmont Scout Ranch this Summer. Spencer is a rising Sophomore at the University of Cincinnati. He is double-majoring in Criminal Justice and Psychology.
Robert has served as Cubmaster, Den Leader, Assistant Scoutmaster and as Skipper of Ship 5001, including leading their first long cruise to St. Thomas in 2016. . He is a Wood Badge and Seabadge gradate who recently served as Seabadge Course Diirector. He has recently served as Central Region Area 4 Commodore.
National Service Territory 10
Territory 10 consists of Allegheny Highlands Council, Baden-Powell Council, Five Rivers Council, Greater Hudson Valley, Greater New York Councils, Greater Niagara Frontier Council, Iroquois Trail Council, Leatherstocking, Longhouse Council, Rip Van Winkle Council, Seneca Waterways, Suffolk County Council, Theodore Roosevelt Council, and Twin Rivers Council
Kristopher is an Apprentice Sea Scout with Ship 460 from Long Island’s Suffolk County Council. He served as the NER Area 2 Boatswain’s Mate of Administration and is a Brotherhood Member of the Order Of The Arrow. Kris is working on his Eagle Award and is an Operations officer in his NJROTC unit. Kris is a Rising Senior and strives to attend a college with an NROTC program with the hopes of gaining a commission to the US Navy.
Sal Ciampo, from Theodore Roosevelt Council is an Eagle Scout who served as Council President and recently as the Area 2 Commissioner and Area 2 Sea Scout Commodore. He has also served a member of the BSA National Outdoor Program Committee, National Property Committee, and the National Camping Committee. He has frequently served on SEAL and Seabadge staff. He is a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow and is the recipient of the Silver Antelope, Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Sea Scout Leadership Award (Area Level), Silver Beaver, and the District Award of Merit.
National Service Territory 11
Territory 11 consists of Cape Cod and Islands Council, Connecticut Rivers Council, Connecticut Yankee Council, Daniel Webster Council, Green Mountain, Greenwich, Heart of New England Council, Housatonic Council, Katahdin Area Council, Mayflower Council, Narragansett, Pine Tree Council, The Spirit of Adventure, Transatlantic Council, and Western Massachusetts Council
Ethan is a Quartermaster Sea Scout of Ship 584 in the Connecticut Rivers Council. He has served as his Ship’s Boatswain and is a SEAL graduate. He is currently a rising Sophomore in College.
Jayson’s involvement in Sea Scouting began as a Professional Scouter and as a volunteer Scouter with Ship 40 in the Cape Cod and Islands Council as Mate and subsequently as the Ship Advancement Chair. As a Professional Scouter Jayson served as the Council’s Sea Scout Director where he established the first Sea Scout Den Chief program in the Council and in Area 1. He also created three Sea Explorer Clubs that served as the Council feeder program to existing ships. Jayson has been a member of the Area 1 Sea Scout Committee and works with youth leader to manage the Facebook and Instagram sites. He also staffed Area 1 Sail Offs for the Koch Cup Competition and he coordinated with the Area Quarterdeck and Council Commodores to conduct Introduction to Leadership for Sea Scout Ships seminars.
National Service Territory 12
Territory 12 consists of Baltimore Area Council, Buckskin, Bucktail Council, Chief Cornplanter Council, Del Mar Va, French Creek Council, Laurel Highlands Council, Mason Dixon Council, Moraine Trails Council, Mountaineer Area, National Capital Area Council, Ohio River Valley Council, Shenandoah Area Council, Virginia Headwaters Council, and Westmoreland Fayette
Jennifer is an Apprentice Sea Scout with Ship 2010 Santa Maria in the Baltimore Area Council, and is currently serving as Council’s Boatswain’s Mate. Jennifer aspires to earn both the Venturing Summit Award and the Rank of Eagle Scout. She is working on her Summit Project right now! Jennifer is a sophomore in high school, and hopes to major in education. She is thrilled to begin working for the future of Sea Scouts.
National Service Territory 13
Territory 13 consists of Chester County Council, Columbia-Montour, Cradle of Liberty Council, Garden State Council, Hawk Mountain Council, Jersey Shore Council, Juniata Valley Council, Minsi Trails Council, Monmouth Council, New Birth of Freedom, Northeastern Pennsylvania Council, Northern New Jersey Council, Patriots Path Council, Pennsylvania Dutch Council, Susquehanna Council, and Washington Crossing Council
Daphne is a member of Sea Scout Ship 228 in the Patriot’s Path Council, where she is serving as the ship’s purser. Daphne also enjoys creating promotional material and writing articles about the ship’s various exploits. She is currently a sophomore in high school.
When she is not scouting, Daphne can find herself at Sea Cadet drills or volunteering on EMS calls. She aspires to attend the United States Naval Academy and then go on to work in special operations. Overall, Daphne hopes to strengthen the ties between Sea Scouting and the military, and is excited to get started!
Justin is an active Scouter with the New Birth of Freedom Council. He began his Scouting career as a Cub Scout and he subsequently earned the Eagle Award in 2007. As a youth, Justin worked on Camp Staff at Camp Tuckahoe and after graduating from the Pennsylvania College of Technology, he joined Ship 25 as Mate and in 2019, he was appointed as Skipper. He has also served as Area Sea Scout Training Chair. Justin completed Seabadge and he is a graduate of the Introduction to On-the-Water Leader Skills (IOWLS) and Advanced On-the-Water Leadership Skills (AOWLS). In addition to earning the Eagle Award, Justin is an Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor member, the recipient of the Sea Scout Leadership Award (Area Level), the Lutheran Lamb adult religious emblem and the God and Church youth religious emblem, the Scouter’s Training Award, and the Arrow of Light.
National Service Territory 14
Territory 14 consists of Atlanta Area Council, Black Warrior Council, Blue Grass Council, Central Georgia Council, Chattahoochee Council, Cherokee Area Council, Chickasaw Council, Coastal Georgia Council, Flint River Council, Great Smoky Mountain Council, Greater Alabama Council, Lincoln Heritage Council, Middle Tennessee Council, Northeast Georgia Council, Northwest Georgia Council, Pushmataha Area Council, Sequoyah Council, Tukabatchee Area Council, West Tennessee Area Council, and Yocona Area Council
Austin Webb is an Apprentice Sea Scout with Ship 190 Poseidon in the Lincoln Heritage Council and is the current Southern Region Area 6 Boatswain. Austin is a member of the 2017 Eagle Scout Class, as well as working towards the Summit and Quartermaster awards.
Austin is attending the University Of Louisville majoring in mathematics and aspires to have a career with the United Parcel Service.
Meredith MaGuirk added the Sea Scout program to her repertoire when her oldest joined Ship 851 of Old Hickory, TN where she continues to serve as Mate. Meredith also serves as Advisor for Crew 299, Committee Member for Troop 747, the Middle Tennessee Council Aquatics Committee Chairman and the National Quarterdeck Events Committee Advisor. She is a NCS Aquatics Instructor and spends her summers on the water at Boxwell Scout Reservation.
National Service Territory 15
Territory 15 consists of Blue Ridge Council, Blue Ridge Mountains Council, Cape Fear Council, Central North Carolina Council, Coastal Carolina Council, Colonial Virginia Council, Daniel Boone Council, East Carolina Council, Georgia-Carolina, Heart of Virginia Council, Indian Waters Council, Mecklenburg County Council, Occoneechee, Old Hickory Council, Old North State Council, Palmetto Council, Pee Dee Area Council, Piedmont Council, Tidewater Council, and Tuscarora Council
An Ordinary Sea Scout, Greycen is the Boatswain of Ship 1610 of Hampton, VA. He serves as Boatswain’s Mate for Colonial Virginia Council and is dual enrolled with Ship 50 in Charleston, SC. He is a Venturer and aspires to become an Eagle Scout. Greycen has been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Gold Award and is a graduate of the inaugural paddle craft SEAL Course. He is a rising sophomore who plans to study a STEM-related field in college.
Scott Davis, from the Heart of Virginia Council, lives in Glen Allen, Virginia and is currently retired. Scott’s adult leader path in Cub Scouts started as a Tiger Den Leader and ended as Cubmaster. Feeling a further call, Scott served as ASM, and later as Scoutmaster before changing roles and moving into the District.
National Service Territory 16
Territory 16 consists of Alabama-Florida Council, Andrew Jackson Council, Central Florida Council, Choctaw Area Council, Greater Tampa Bay Area, Gulf Coast Council, Gulf Stream Council, Mobile Area Council, North Florida Council, Pine Burr Area Council, Puerto Rico Council, South Florida Council, South Georgia Council, Southwest Florida Council, and Suwannee River Area Council
Annslee is an Able scout and is working diligently on her Quartermaster Rank. She is the Boatswain of Ship 915 Intrepid and Council Boatswain of the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council. She has participated in SEAL, served as a troop guide for NYLT, and joined the Order of the Arrow. Annslee is currently a Junior in High School in the International Baccalaureate program. She aspires to study Ocean Engineering at university and work in the NOAA Corps.
Charles “Chuck” Haythorn, from Gulf Stream Council, is an Eagle Scout who founded Ship 777 while also serving as Assistant Council Commissioner for Venturing and Sea Scouts. 2015 appointed Council Commodore for the Gulf Stream Council. He subsequently became Council Commodore and then Southern Region Area 4 Commodore. Chuck is a BSA Certified Angling Instructor who as been awarded District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver, Council Level Venturing Leadership Award and the Area level Sea Scout Leadership award.