The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has officially appointed Capt. Jason Russo as the new Boating Law Administrator for the state, a move expected to further bolster Louisiana's agenda for safer recreational boating. According to an announcement made by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Russo will also act as the state's primary liaison to the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).
Having dedicated 24 years to the LDWF Enforcement Division, Russo's prior experience is set to heavily inform in his new capacity. His commitment to boating safety was nationally acknowledged on Dec. 5, 2024, when he was honored with the NASBLA’s Certified Recreational Boating Professional certification—making him the first LDWF agent to receive such an accolade. This certification is designed to acknowledge to comprehensively advance one's knowledge and performance in the field of recreational boating safety and enforcement.
Alongside his role as Boating Law Administrator, Capt. Russo will continue his work overseeing emergency services and the Accredited Agency Program for NASBLA’s Boat Operations and Training (BOAT) program. Capt. Russo has also established himself as an influencing educator, serving as a national instructor for NASBLA's Boating Incident courses and acting as LDWF’s designated Officer Water Survival Instructor.
The accomplishment of such leadership has not gone unnoticed; in 2023, Russo was the recipient of NASBLA’s Butch Potts Boating Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award, an honor that reflects his significant contributions to the field. LDWF Col. Stephen Clark, head of the Enforcement Division, praised Russo's appointment, "Capt. Russo’s deep knowledge, instructional experience, and long-standing commitment to boating safety make him exceptionally well-suited to serve as Louisiana’s Boating Law Administrator," as articulated in a statement obtained by LDWF's press release.
With the new title, Capt. Russo’s duties will include the coordination with federal, state, and local partners to ramp up Boating education, accident investigation, enforcement, and training throughout Louisiana's waterways.
