The Order of the Arrow created the Distinguished Service Award in 1940 in conjunction with the 25th anniversary of the Order. Its purpose is to recognize and honor those Arrowmen who have rendered distinguished and outstanding service to the Order on a section, area, regional, or national basis. The award is given primarily for dedicated service to Scouting and the Order over a period of years.
The first recipients chosen in 1940 were 11 pioneer leaders of the Order of the Arrow. The award is a traditional part of the pageantry and ceremony of each National OA Conference. Including the presentations at this conference, only 1,019 Distinguished Service Awards have been presented. This alone is a testament to the award’s high standard of excellence.
The award is a sterling silver arrowhead, bearing an arrow pointing upward and to the wearer’s right, suspended from a white neck ribbon upon which are embroidered red arrows. A white square knot embroidered upon red cloth is available for uniform wear.
Presentation of the award is limited. Arrowmen whose service extends most beyond the local lodge are normally selected. Youth and adults, as well as professional scouters, may receive the award.
2018 Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Mitchell Lawrence Andrews
Mitch is from Willoughby Hills, OH and Erielhonan Lodge. Mitch served as the 2012 CVC of Adventure Central, as the 2015 OA Ocean Adventure Director, and staffed ArrowCorps5 in 2008 and SummitCorps in 2011. Mitch has served two terms as Section C-4A Chief and staffed the 2010 and 2013 National Scout Jamborees.
Robert H. Anstett
Rob is from Franklin, TN and Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge. Robert serves as the OA LodgeMaster Development Lead and has served as a key volunteer on the National OA Subcommittee on Technology for many years. Prior to those efforts, Rob served on the NOAC Shows staff for 3 conferences and served as lodge chief of Owaneco Lodge.
Tim Beaty
Tim is from Pleasant View, UT and Awaxaawe’ Awachia Lodge. Tim has chaired the BSA’s National Hornaday Award Committee for many years and serves on the BSA’s National Conservation Committee. Tim has staffed twelve National OA Conferences and seven National Camping Schools and provided key direction and leadership to ArrowCorps5 in 2008.
Matthew Lewis Bell
Matt is from West Decatur, PA and Ah’Tic Lodge. Matt served as the 2015 Northeast Region Chief and led NLS staffs and served on staff at NOAC during that year. Matt served as Section NE-4A Chief and worked as part of the staff at NEXT in 2016.
Christopher J. Boyle
Chris is from Massapequa, NY and Buckskin Lodge. Chris served as the 2016 Northeast Region Chief and served on many NLS staffs as well as on the ArrowTour staff. Chris served three terms as Section NE-2B Chief and served on the staff at NEXT in 2016, along with four summers on his council summer camp staff.
Patrick Burtchaell
Patrick is from New Orleans, LA and Chilantakoba Lodge. Patrick served as the CVC of Communications at the 2015 NOAC and as youth coordinator of the national OA website. Patrick served two-terms as Section SR-1A Chief and staffed the OA Hackathon in 2017.
Alexander C. Call
Alex is from Dallas, TX and Colonneh Lodge. Alex served as the 2015 National Chief and led the Order into its centennial year and its centennial National OA Conference. Alex served as the Section SR2-3S Chief and staffed the National OA Bulletin, the NLS Train-the-Trainer course, and many NLS staffs.
Ralph Craig Davis
Craig is from Port Isabel, TX and Tonkawa Lodge. Craig has served on the National OA Committee since 2017 and has served on NOAC staff in 1979 and 1981 and again from 1988 to present, working with the shows and comptroller group. Craig also served on five national Scout jamboree staffs. As a youth in Wewanoma Lodge, Craig served two terms as section vice chief, as the Section SC-3B Chief, and as CVC of Shows for the 1981 NOAC.
Michael David DeSocio
Mike is from Lincroft, NJ and Na Tsi Hi Lodge. Mike has provided valuable leadership to National OA Communications over the last several years, leading the creation of the official national brand and guidelines. Mike also developed the logos and brands for 2015 NOAC and NEXT in 2016, and for various national programs. Mike served on the staffs of the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, the 2015 NOAC, and NEXT in 2016, and served as Section NE-5A Secretary in 2014.
Joseph Mark Dierdorf II
Joey is from Brazil, IN and Jaccos Towne Lodge. Joey served as the 2015 Central Region Chief and on the OA staff at the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. Joey served on three NLS staffs, the 2012 and 2015 NOAC staffs, and served as a NEXT crew guide in 2016. Joey also served as Section C-6A Chief.
Steven Clyde Dupaix
Steve is from Salt Lake City, UT and El-Ku-Ta Lodge. Steve has served on shows staff at every NOAC since 1994, most of which he has served as special effects director. Steve also provided key leadership to OA shows at national Scout jamborees in 1997, 2001, 2005, 2010, as well as at other OA events, including ArrowCorps5 in 2008.
Bradley John Ellis
Bradley is from Jupiter, FL and Aal-Pa-Tah Lodge. Bradley has served as an OA Wilderness Voyage foreman and instructor, providing diligent service to Northern Tier over many years. Bradley has served on six NOAC staffs and staff for the NCLS in 2007, ArrowCorps5 in 2008, and SummitCorps in 2011. Bradley served as lodge chief as a youth.
Harrison Dean Fry
Harrison is from South Fulton, TN and Nguttitehen Lodge. Harrison served as the 2017 Southern Region Chief and, prior to that, served as Section SR-6 Chief. Harrison served as the youth lead for the OA SeaBreak project in 2018. Harrison served as a 2015 NOAC trainer, served as a crew guide for NEXT in 2016, served on the OA staff at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree, and worked on the OA’s LLD rewrite in 2017.
Joe Paul Garcia II
Joe is from Peoria, AZ and Wipala Wiki Lodge. Joe served as the 2016 Western Region Chief, as Section W-6W Chief, and as a two-term lodge chief. Joe served on several NLS staffs, as well as on the staff of the 2015 NOAC and NEXT in 2016.
Forrest J. Gertin
Forrest is from Rochester, NY and Tschipey Achu Lodge. Forrest served as the CVC of Messaging for NEXT in 2016 and served as the 2017 National Chief providing leadership to the OA’s efforts at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Forrest served two terms as Section NE-3A Chief.
Taylor Joseph Giles
Taylor is from Charleston, WV and Takhonek Lodge. Taylor served as the 2017 Central Region Chief and worked with the OA Exhibits at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Taylor served as Section C-4B Chief, an OA Summit Experience foreman in 2016 and leading several NLS courses.
Logan Michael Greene
Logan is from Mitchell, IN and Nischa Chuppecat Lodge. Logan served as the 2016 Central Region Chief and served in all three section offices in Section C-6A. Logan served as an ArrowTour CVC, on its road crew staff, and staffed many NLS courses. Logan served on the 2015 NOAC Staff, the 2016 NEXT Staff, and the 2016 Prism Staff.
Glenn J. Greubel
Glenn is from Merrick, NY and Buckskin Lodge. Glenn provided key adult leadership to the ArrowTour Road Crew and the entire project, as well as staffing many NLS, NLATS, and DYLC courses. Glenn has served as Section NE-2B Adviser since 2013.
Stephen Grover
Steve is from Allentown, PA and Witauchsoman Lodge. Steve has staffed every national OA event since 1998, serving primarily in the OA Trading Post or endowment areas. Steve has also provided leadership to Section NE-5B and Section NE-5 and served on the staff of five national Scout jamborees.
Jonathan T. Hagenow
Jon is from Suffield, CT and Tschitani Lodge. Jon served as the 2017 Northeast Region Chief and served as Section NE-2A Chief. Jon has staffed eight NLS courses and served as OA Midway chaiman at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree.
Joshua J. Hunt
Josh is from Milwaukee, WI and Kon Wapos Lodge. Josh has provided important service to the Goodman Edson Observatory Museum at the 2012 and 2015 NOACs, as a key volunteer with the National OA Subcommittee involving history, and has sketched images of historic OA events for which no photograph exists. Josh served as “artist in residence” for the OA at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree and created an original work. As a youth, Josh served as the 2007 Section C-1B Chief, the Central Region website coordinator, and on the Instructor Corps for ArrowCorps5.
Tyler Inberg
Tyler is from Tualatin, OR and Wauna La-Mon’Tay Lodge. Tyler served as the 2016 National Vice Chief and as CVC of Activities and Recreation at the 2015 NOAC. Tyler has served on several NLS staffs and served as a two-term Section W-1S Chief. Tyler also served as national technology youth coordinator in 2017 and provided leadership to the 2017 OA Hackathon.
Hunter Nelson Jones
Hunter is from Lafayette, TN and Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge. Hunter served as the 2016 National Chief and led the development of the 2016 NEXT event. Hunter has staffed over a dozen NLS courses and served as specialty trainings lead at the 2015 NOAC. Prior to serving as national chief, Hunter served as Section SR-6 Chief.
Benjamin Karlsen, Jr.
Ben is from Las Vegas, NV and Nebagamon Lodge. Ben has provided continuous service to the national shows of the Order for each NOAC from 2000 to present. Ben also provided leadership and service to the OA shows at the national Scout jamborees in 2001, 2005, and 2010. As a youth, he served as lodge chief.
Anthony J. “AJ” Kelly
AJ is from Virginia Beach, VA and Blue Heron Lodge. AJ has served as key volunteer with the National Subcommittee on Communications since 2014, working with graphic design and branding for NEXT and Operation Arrow for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. AJ served on the ArrowTour Road Crew, as a NEXT crew guide, and as OA Trek Guide staff for the 2013 National Scout Jamboree. AJ has served in all three section offices for SR-7A and staffed the OA’s DYLC course and served on 2015 NOAC shows staff.
Bradley Austin Kriznar
Austin is from Jacksonville, FL and Echockotee Lodge. Austin served as CVC of Shows for the 2015 NOAC and served on shows staff for NEXT in 2016. Austin has written for the National OA Bulletin and served on NLS staff. Austin served as Section S-4 Chief in 2015.
Alexander Isaac Leach
Alex is from Roswell, GA and Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge. Alex served as the 2015 Southern Region Chief and provided leadership to the 2015 NOAC and several NLS courses. Alex previously served as Section SR-9 Chief and Alex has also provided service to the National OA Subcommittee for Unit, Chapter, and Lodge Support.
Nathaniel Aaron Lee
Nathan is from Kirkland, WA and T’Kope Kwiskwis Lodge. Nathan served as the 2015 Western Region Chief and served on staff at the 2015 NOAC. Nathan staffed many NLS courses and provided leadership to LINK, a project to disseminate best practices to section officers across the country. Nathan served as Section W-1N Chief.
Manuel Lopez
Manny is from Aliso Viejo, CA and Wiatava Lodge. Manny served as the 2017 Western Region Chief and served on the Operation Arrow leadership staff for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Manny staffed several NLS and other region training courses. He served as the Section W-4S Chief.
Patrick S. Mapp
Patrick is from McDonough, GA and Ini-To Lodge. Patrick served as the CVC of Experience for NEXT in 2016 and as the Jamboree Vice Chief of Service Corps for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Patrick staffed the 2015 NOAC and numerous NLS courses. Patrick also served three terms as Section SR-9 Chief.
Steven P. McGowan
Steve is from Irving, TX and Gamenowinink Lodge. Steve currently serves as general counsel to the Boy Scouts of America. Prior to that involvement, Steve was a volunteer from Cross Lanes, WV, and served on several national Scout jamboree staffs, staffed the Philmont Training Center, and led many of the efforts to create and develop the Bechtel Summit. Steve received the Silver Buffalo Award in 2013.
Don Miller
Don is from Dickson, TN and Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge. Don provided key adult support to the ArrowTour project in 2015 and to many tasks related to the infrastructure and development of the OA Summit Circle. Don also volunteered on several task forces related to the OA Centennial. Don has worked on many NLS and NLATS courses.
Curtis W. Palmer
Curtis is from Eudora, KS and Gamenowinink Lodge. Curt is a senior program administration specialist with the BSA and served as the Central Region OA Staff Adviser from 2010 to 2014. Curt has served as program specialist lead for National Camping Schools and directed four courses. Curt has served on national Scout jamboree staffs from 1993 to 2017 and has served several councils in his career as a professional Scouter since 1982.
Kyle Matthew Palmer
Kyle is from Salt Lake City, UT and El-Ku-Ta Lodge. Kyle served as youth chairman of the Goodman Edson Observatory Museum at the 2015 NOAC and served on the Exhibit & Display Staff for Operation Arrow at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Kyle has served as the SURGE co-chairman and on staff of the 2016 NEXT and DYLC courses. Kyle also served as the Section W-2W Chief and provided leadership to ArrowTour in the Western Region.
Talon Brooks Parker
Talon is from Elm City, NC and Croatan Lodge. Talon served as the 2017 National Vice Chief and provided leadership to the OA’s activities at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Talon has served on 2015 NOAC staff, on more than six NLS staffs, and as a foreman for OA Ocean Adventure. Talon has served as Section SR-7B Chief.
Kyle M. Raffensperger
Kyle is from Leesburg, VA and Amangamek-Wipit Lodge. Kyle served on the ArrowTour staff and caravan road crew, served as a crew guide for NEXT in 2016, and served with the OA Service Corps for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Kyle served on the 2015 NOAC staff and participated in ArrowCorps5 in 2008. Kyle has served on NLS staff and served as Section NE-6A Chief in 2014.
Timothy John Riedl
Tim is from Dubuque, IA and Timmeu Lodge. Tim served as OA Trail Crew Director in 2014 and 2015 and provided years of service as a Trail Crew foreman and Philmont Scout Ranch staff member. Tim served on NOAC staff in 2009, 2012, and 2015 and served on the ArrowCorps5 Instructor Corps. As a youth, Tim served as the Section C-1C Chief in 2008.
Michael Jason Riley
Jason is from Austin, TX and Tonkawa Lodge. Jason has served on several NOAC staffs and provided key leadership to NLS Train-the-Trainer and to the NLS re-write project as part of his role as a key volunteer with the National Subcommittee for Training. Jason served on the ArrowTour development team and provided leadership to NEXT in 2016. Jason has also served as Southern Region NLS Adviser for several years and is a vice chairman of the Southern Region OA Committee.
Bobby Robinson
Bobby is from Sparta, TN and Wa-Hi-Nasa Lodge. Bobby has provided important “behind the scenes” support to the ArrowTour project in 2015 and to many tasks related to the infrastructure and development of the OA Summit Circle. Bobby also volunteered on several other task forces related to the OA Centennial. Bobby has provided service to many NLS and NLATS courses.
Robert W. Rodriguez
Rob is from Jersey City, NJ and Lenapehoking Lodge. Rob serves as Section NE-5 Adviser and served on many NOAC staffs over the past twenty years. A former OA Wilderness Voyage foreman, Rob staffed ArrowCorps5 in 2008 and SummitCorps in 2011. Rob served on the staffs of NLS, NLATS, and DYLC training courses. As a youth, Rob served as CVC of Founder’s Day at the 2000 NOAC and served as Section NE-2B Chief.
Sven Julius Rundman III
Sven is from Fredericksburg, VA and Amangamek-Wipit Lodge. Sven served on staff of ArrowCorps5 in 2008 and Summit Corps in 2011 providing leadership to the safety team. Sven serves on the BSA’s National Health and Safety Support Committee and has served on safety staff at NOAC since 2009 and at national Scout jamborees since 2005.
Steve Sawyer
Steve is from Dallas, TX and Mikanakawa Lodge. Steve served as the Region OA Staff Adviser for all four regions beginning from July of 2014 to December 2016 and served as Southern Region OA Staff Adviser until 2018. In that role, Steve staffed many NLS, NLATS, and DYLC courses. Steve retired from professional Scouting in April 2018 after serving as a senior program development specialist with the BSA. Steve also served as staff adviser to the National Commissioner Service Team as part of his career with the BSA that began in 1988.
Jeffrey Michael Sedlacek, II
Jeff is from King, NC and Wahissa Lodge. Jeff served as the 2016 Southern Region Chief and staffed the 2015 NOAC, NEXT and PRISM in 2016, and several NLS courses. Jeff served as youth lead for a NLS rewrite task force. Jeff also served as Section SR-7B Chief.
George M. Soltis
George is from South Charleston, WV and Takhonek Lodge. George served as the Section C-4B Adviser from 2012 until 2015. George provided adult leadership to the 2007 NCLS, ArrowCorps5 in 2008, and SummitCorps in 2011. George has also served as a key volunteer with the National OA Subcommittee on Outdoor Adventures and has provided valuable service to the Summit Circle.
Donald J. Stephens, Jr.
Donnie is from Shavertown, PA and Lowwapaneu Lodge. Donnie served as the 2015 National Vice Chief, providing leadership to the OA Centennial and the 2015 NOAC. Donnie served as Section NE-5B Chief and provided lengthy service to his council summer camp staff.
William Scott Stephens
Scott is from Memphis, TN and Ahoalan-Nachpikin Lodge. Scott served as lead adviser to the 2017 Lodge Leadership Development Task Force and served on the training staff of many national OA events, including NEXT in 2016, OA training at Philmont Scout Ranch in 2017, and five NOACs. He has staffed five NLATS courses and four NLS courses and serves as a Section SR-6 Associate Adviser.
Michael B. Surbaugh
Mike is from Flower Mound, TX and Gamenowinink Lodge. Mike serves as the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America and has served in that role since October 2015. Previously, he had served as a group director in the National Service Center and as Scout executive in three councils, among other roles, all as part of his career as a professional Scouter since 1984. Mike served for many years as a staffer in council scout camps and as a camp director.
Michael T. Swalberg
Michael is from San Anselmo, CA and Talako Lodge. Michael served as CVC of Centennial Celebrations at the 2015 NOAC and as national communications coordinator for the OA. Michael also provided key leadership for the 2016 PRISM event and the 2017 OA Hackathon, in addition to serving on many NLS staffs. Michael served as the Section W-3N Chief in 2015.
Price Matthew Watson
Matthew is from Simpsonville, SC and Atta Kulla Kulla Lodge. Matthew served as the JVC of Indian Village for the 2017 National Scout Jamboree and served on staff of NEXT in 2016. Matthew served as a key volunteer with the National OA Subcommittee on Recognition, Awards, History, and Preservation, and served the National Communications Team. Matthew has served on several NLS staffs and served as Section SR-5 Chief.
Theodore Robert Weiland
Ted is from Cedar Rapids, IA and Cho-Gun-Mun-A-Nock Lodge. Ted served as the national OA High Adventure adviser and on staff of NEXT in 2016 and served with the OA Service Corps at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. Ted has served as a Philmont Scout Ranch OA Trail Crew foreman and as OA Wilderness Voyage assistant director and foreman. Ted served on the SummitCorps staff in 2011 and on NOAC, NLS, and DYLC staffs.
Brent Wessel
Brent is from Cape Girardeau, MO and Anpetu-We Lodge. Brent served as Program Vice Chief for the Indian Summer event in 2011 and served on Indian Village staff at the 2010, 2013, and 2017 National Scout Jamborees. Brent served on American Indian Activities staff at the 2012 and 2015 NOACs, served on two NLS staffs, and served the Central Region’s Communications Team. Brent served two terms as Section C-3B Chief in 2010 and 2011.
Michael F. White
Mike is from Charlottesville, VA and Shenandoah Lodge. Mike has served as the Southern Region OA Chairman and as a member of the National OA Committee since January 2017. Mike served as Section SR-7A Adviser from 2010 until 2016 and served on the staff of every NOAC since 1996.
James Scott Williamson
James is from Aurora, CO and Tahosa Lodge. James served as the OA Summit Experience Director in 2017 after serving two years as foreman and one year as assistant director. James served on the OA Service Corps staff at the 2017 National Scout Jamboree. James served as Western Region OA High Adventure Chairman and served on NLS staff. James served on the 2015 NOAC staff and served as Section W-2S Secretary in 2015.
Robert Kenneth Wong
Rob is from Castro Valley, CA and Achewon Nimat Lodge. Rob has provided service to Section W-3A as both youth and adult. Rob served on DYLC staff in 2017 and previously staffed NLS. Rob has staffed six NOACs, the 2016 NEXT, and ArrowCorps5 in 2008. As a youth Rob served two-terms as the Section W-3A Chief.
