National Park Service Lighthouse Award

Congratulations Patrick Smith!!!!!!

Russell Galipeau,
Superintendent Channel Islands National Park Service,

Lighthouse Award:

The Lighthouse Award was established to recognize volunteer service that is above and beyond the normal level of commitment and is key to the success of the volunteer program at Channel Islands National Park.

This year we are recognizing Patrick Smith.

Pat is a member of the Coastal Maritime Archaeology Resources (CMAR) — an avocational group dedicated to discovering, recording, interpreting, monitoring, and protecting the unique maritime heritage of park and sanctuary waters.

He has personally been involved in maritime archaeology at the park and sanctuary for two decades. He has made active contributions to scholarly research such as his recent paper on the Grumman Avenger which he presented at the latest California Islands Symposium. His knowledge of ships, aviation and maritime history is encyclopedic.

Pat's participation in the park dive program is greatly valued for his skill and extensive experience. For the 2012 NPS wreck cruise for example, Pat served as lead park diver for the project. His knowledge of marine life and his talents as a photographer and archaeologist add substantially to the projects in which he is involved. Additionally, his ability as a diver contributes greatly to the safety and success of the marine archaeology programs at both the National Park and the National Marine Sanctuary.

Additionally, Pat is active in presenting outreach programs about maritime archaeology to dive clubs and other groups. As an ambassador to the diving community, Pat plays a significant role in delivering preservation messages to dive boats and the diving public. In one instance this year, his intervention prevented a dive boat from causing anchoring damage to the Winfield Scott, a maritime resource that's listed on the National Register. Furthermore, the information about wreck sites that Pat has gleaned from local divers has been a key factor in documenting sites previously unknown to park and sanctuary management.

For these reasons, we are presenting Patrick Smith this year's Lighthouse Award.

A BIG Congratuations Patrick Smith!

• Re: Congratulations Patrick Smith!!!!!! MadMax 02:30:38 02/10/13 (0)
• Re: Congratulations Patrick Smith!!!!!! Elaine 13:18:42 01/25/13 (0)
• WTG, PAT! Jim 12:01:06 01/25/13 (0)