A Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) enforcement agent was recently named the 2023 National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) Boating Officer of the Year.
Lt. Jason Russo, of Metairie and a 21-year veteran with the LDWF Enforcement Division, was honored with the national NASBLA award for his continuous dedication to enforcing boating safety laws and educating the public at NASBLA’s annual conference on Sept. 21. Lt. Russo is the first agent from Louisiana to win this national boating officer award.
“Lt. Russo is very deserving of this national boating safety award. He has always done a great job of enforcing boating safety laws and teaching boating safety classes to the public,” said Col. Rachel Zechenelly, head of the Enforcement Division. “Lt. Russo is also a leader in his region as he helps mentor younger agents especially when it comes to boating safety education and patrol.”
Lt. Russo has been a boating safety instructor for over 18 years teaching safe boating classes. His training includes successful completion of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Marine Patrol Officer's course, FLETC Marine Law Enforcement Training Program, NASBLA's Level I Boating Incident Investigation (BII) course, NASBLA's Level II BII Reconstruction course, and he serves as an instructor for NASBLA’s Level I BII course and its Officer Water Survival course.
Lt. Russo has demonstrated leadership when it comes to boating safety as four of the agents he directly supervises have received safe boating awards in the past six years. His commitment to enforcing boating safety laws and educating the public on boating safety in the field have benefited the LDWF Enforcement Division and the people that he serves.
Lt. Russo was awarded with the NASBLA Southern Region Officer of the Year award this past June.