Velasquez elected president of national boating safety and security organization
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
September 17, 2012
Filed under News
Press Release
MOBILE, Ala. (Sept. 17, 2012) – During its 53rd annual meeting, held in Mobile, Ala., Sept. 8-12, 2012, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) elected Toby Velasquez, New Mexico’s boating law administrator, as president of the nonprofit organization for the 2012-13 year. He succeeds Capt. Mike Fields, Kentucky’s boating law administrator.
Toby Velasquez became the chief of Law Enforcement and Boating for the state of New Mexico in March 2006. Chief Velasquez has worked with the state’s Energy, Minerals & Natural Resources Department – State Parks Division since 1999. In addition to his involvement with NASBLA, Velasquez is a two-term president of the Western States Boating Administrators Association and is active within his community coaching and mentoring youth through non-profit organizations promoting outdoor recreation, sportsmanship and teamwork.
As New Mexico’s BLA, Velasquez works toward increasing the public’s perception and awareness regarding the seriousness of boating safety through education, outreach, community involvement, partnerships and law enforcement. In addition, he believes it’s important to maintain the integrity of our natural resources while facilitating multiple-use recreation so that people are aware of and stay in touch with the outdoors. Velasquez, whose hometown is in the beautiful Mora Valley, enjoys hunting and fishing trips with family and friends.
Other officers of the association serving with Velasquez include:
- Vice President – Herb Angell, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
- Treasurer – Kevin Bergersen, Arizona Game & Fish Department
- Member-at-Large – Eleanor Mariani, Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
- Member-at-Large – Darren Rider, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
- Member-at-Large – Dave Harris, Utah State Parks
- Immediate Past President – Jim Graybeal, Delaware Department of Natural Resources & Environmental Control
