Commissioner Service

Commissioners are district and council volunteer leaders who help Scout units succeed. Commissioners coach and regularly consult with adult leaders of Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, Explorer Posts and Sea Scout Ships. They help maintain the standards of the BSA through maintaining regular contact with unit leaders, counseling leaders on where to find assistance, noting weaknesses in programs and suggesting remedies to improve. The commissioner is successful when units effectively deliver the ideals of Scouting to their members.

Where to recharter?  Unit and membership renewal.

OUR MISSION

  • As commissioners, we share the BSA’s mission: To prepare youth to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

    OUR VISION

    Every member of the BSA has a great Scouting experience. 

    OUR OBJECTIVES

    1. Supporting unit growth and retention through the journey to excellence.
    2. Contacting units and capturing in commissioner tools their strengths, needs, and a unit service plan that enables continuing improvement.
    3. Linking unit needs to district operating committee and other resources.
    4. Supporting timely unit, district, and council charter renewals.
    5. Supporting unit leaders by collecting and distributing information, enabling program training, and providing networking opportunities.

    OUR GOALS

    1. Enable an increased number of traditional units.
    2. Enable the retention rate of traditional units.
    3. Enable implementation of a unit service plan through collaborative detailed assessments and an increased number of significant unit contacts.

    OUR METHODS

    1. The UPG Methodology
    2. New Member Coordinators
    3. Unit Key 3
    4. The Unit Service Plan
    5. Journey to Excellence
    6. My.Scouting Tools (Including Commissioner Tools)
    7. Continuous Recruiting
    8. Assigning Resources to Greatest Needs

Retention Mission Statement

  • The retention mission of the commissioner corps is best achieved by providing an adequate number of trained unit commissioners who provide a link to district committee resources in support of a quality unit program.

     


    Maybe you’d like to be a Commissioner?

    It’s a great Scouting job, and very rewarding. Commissioners in the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council have many years of experience in Scouting, but that’s not a requirement! Even if you are new to Scouting, if you like working with people to promote good Scouting and solve problems, and you are willing to take advantage of the many Commissioner training opportunities put on throughout the year, you may be a great candidate for this area of Scouting service. Just contact Bill Guglielmi acting Director of Field Service, by, e-mail and you will be on your way. The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council Commissioner Corps is currently looking for volunteers at the Unit Commissioner level for all districts.

    Commissioner Qualifications

    • Trained Scouter (or willing to be trained)
    • Meet basic Boy Scouts of America membership requirements
    • Willing to visit and regularly contact Scout units
    • Willing to attend district activities
    • Be pro-district and pro-council
    • Willing to attend monthly commissioner staff meetings
    • Willing to live by the Scout Oath and Law

     


    Commissioner Tools Updates (Commissioner Tools 2.0)

    Commissioner Tools is available via the my.Scouting.org  portal. Commissioner Tools helps commissioners perform by providing access to information critical to supporting units. Here are a few examples of Commissioner Tools capabilities:

    • Assign commissioners to units.
    • Record contacts. A commissioner is most effective through frequent contact with units to build a friendly and trusting relationship.
    • Roundtable administrations. Plan, record attendance, and monitor effectiveness.
    • Conduct assessments to help a unit improve. In concert with the Unit Service Plan and Journey to Excellence (JTE), the tool provides the ability to record the results and build action plans that may access and incorporate district, council, and other resources beyond the unit.
    • Monitor a unit’s progress. Access unit information.

    Commissioner Tools PowerPoint presentation. Includes speaker notes that could be used for local training. Note: For the sake of completeness and to promote learning through repetition, there intentionally is some overlap between this presentation and the Unit Service Plan presentation.

    Updates to Commissioner ToolsThis is the most recent update information regarding changes and improvements made to commissioner tools.


     Unit Service Plan

    Commissioner Resources and Manuals

Commissioner Assessment Forms

Pack Detailed Assessment Blank Form       Team Detailed Assessment Blank Form

Crew Detailed Assessment Blank Form          Team Detailed Assessment Blank Form

Ship Detailed Assessment Blank Form

Unit Assessment Forms

Pack Assessment Blank Form  | Troop Assessment Blank Form  |Crew Assessment Blank Form |Ship Assessment Blank Form |Team Assessment Blank Form

 Pack Detailed Assessment Blank Form       Team Detailed Assessment Blank Form Crew Detailed Assessment Blank Form          Team Detailed Assessment Blank Form Ship Detailed Assessment Blank Form

The purpose of the College of Commissioner Science is to provide supplemental training for all functions in the council and district related to commissioner service. It is recognized that commissioners are key to the continued health and growth of the units in the council.

BACHELOR OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE

Credit for a Bachelor of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner completes the following:

PREREQUISITES:

  • Has up-to-date Youth Protection Training
  • Has current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
  • Completion of “Commissioner Basic Training”

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Completion of seven courses of instruction, at least five of the courses at the Bachelor’s program level.

MASTERS OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE

Credit for a Masters of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner completes the following:

PREREQUISITES:

  • Current registration as a Commissioner
  • Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
  • Has earned the Arrowhead Honor.
  • Have received a Bachelor of Commissioner Science Degree or a Bachelor of Roundtable Degree, or has been awarded the Commissioner’s Key.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Completion of seven (7) additional courses of instruction (total of 14), at least seven of the courses at the Master’s level.

DOCTOR OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE DEGREE

Note: Earning the Doctor of Commissioner Science Degree does not qualify you to receive the Doctorate of Commissioner Service Knot Award.

PREREQUISITES:

  • Current registration as a Commissioner
  • Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
  • Completion of Master’s Degree.
  • Have been awarded the Commissioner’s Key.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

  • Completion of 10 additional courses of instruction (total of 24) at least five of the courses at the Doctorate or Continuing Education program level. Courses

    may not have previously been counted toward other college degrees.

THESIS OR PROJECT:

  • It is recommended that the topic of a project or thesis be directly related to unit service. There may be specific circumstances under which a topic related to another area of Scouting would be appropriate. Local councils have the authority to approve topics related to another area of Scouting when selecting one directly related to unit service isn’t appropriate or practical. The council commissioner or designee may authorize an alternate topic. This can be on any topic related to Commissioner Service.

  • The topic must be pre-approved by the college of commissioner science committee. Complete the thesis/project using the approved format as determined by the college. The topic and final paper must be approved by the doctoral review committee. All segments(proposal, proposal acceptance, thesis/project completion, thesis acceptance) of the degree must be approved by the college of commissioner science.

COMMISSIONER PERFORMANCE:

  • Serve for at least one year on the college of commissioner science staff (instructor or support staff), or work with training support for commissioners for at least one year.

DOCTORATE OF COMMISSIONER SCIENCE SERVICE KNOT AWARD

Credit for a Doctor of Commissioner Science Degree will be granted by this College if the participant Commissioner fulfills the following:

PREREQUISITES:

  • Current registration as a Commissioner
  • Current BSA Youth Protection Training Certificate
  • Completion of Doctoral Degree in Commissioner Science

TENURE:

  • Serve as a commissioner for a minimum of 5 years. (Years need not be consecutive). This service can be in one or more roles or positions commissioner of service.

RECRUITING:

  • Recruit or assist in recruiting at least three new commissioners during tenure as a commissioner.

FINAL APPROVAL:

  • Approval of council or assigned assistant council commissioner.

BSA SUGGESTED STATEMENT OF COURSE WORK RECIPROCITY

“The College of Commissioner Science accepts a Commissioner’s course work from any Boy Scouts of America College of Commissioner Science provided that an official transcript is made available.”

The College of Commissioner Science will credit courses from another council to be applied towards a College of Commissioner Science Degree if prior approval has been obtained from the current Dean of the College of Commissioner Science.

Classes taken at a University of Scouting that are not listed in the BSA National Curriculum (http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/commissioners/training.aspx) will not be accepted for credit. The College will also honor Commissioner courses taken at the Philmont Training Center. (Please submit a transcript to the College of Commissioner Science Registrar.)

DEGREE RECOGNITION

The College of Commissioner Science will continue to recognize degrees earned from other Boy Scouts of America College of Commissioner Science and Philmont Training Center College of Commissioner Science degrees provided that an official transcript is made available.

AWARD RECOGNITION

The College of Commissioner Science will honor all Commissioner Arrowhead, Commissioner Key, Distinguished Commissioner, and the Commissioner Award of Excellence in Unit Service, and the Doctor of Commissioner Science Awards.

COLLEGE STAFF

Greater Tampa Bay Area Council President – Benson Porter

Council Commissioner – Matthew Cordani, G. T. B. A. C.

Dean of the College – Dr. G. S. Torres, G. T. B. A. C.

Dean of Bachelors – Matt Cordani, G. T. B. A. C.

Dean of Masters – David Logsdon, G. T. B. A. C.

Dean of Doctoral – J. Ronayne, Miccosukee

Registrar – Bob Huff, Pathfinder

Assistant Registrar – Matt Cordani, G. T. B. A. C.

Upcoming Trainings

Meet your Commissioners

 Greater Tampa Bay Area Council Commissioner Corps

Council Commissioner

Assistant Council Commissioners

  • Matt Kamat                              District Support
  • Bill Haggard                             Administration
  • Dr. Eric Renker                        Special Projects
  • Dr. G. S. Torres                       Continuing Education
  • Jim Ronayne                           Special Needs Scouting
  • Christopher Perry                    Roundtable Commissioner
  • Tom McMullen                         Sea Scouts, Venturing, OA

District Commissioners and Executives

Eastern Service Area

Timucua

District Chair – Michael French

District Commissioner – Frank Brown

District Director – Catherine Eisenhart-Mora 

Withlacoochee

District Chair – Judge Stephen Toner

District Commissioner – John Coble

District Executive – Emily Thomas

Thunderbird

District Chair – Hary Nair

District Commissioner – Jose Rivera

District Executive – Victoria Moran

Lake Region

District Chair – Vacant

District Commissioner – Elissa Motter

District Executive  – Victoria Moran

 

Western Service Area

Skyway

District Chair – John Tredo

District Commissioner – Brad Luther

District Executive – James Hebbel

Miccosukee

District Chair – Travis Norton

District Commissioner – Vacant

Area Director – Kyle Molldene

Suncoast

District Chair – Warren Wenner

District Commissioner – Javier Fuentes

District Executive – Lincoln Allen

Central Service Area

Fort Brooke

District Chair – Vacant

District Commissioner – Don Olivier

Area Director – Jeremy Twachtman

Pathfinder

District Chair – Rachelle Bedke

District Commissioner – Dr. G. S. Torres

District Professional – Kyle Christmas

Have questions or feedback about this page? Last updated April 28, 2025

Please contact the page author with your feedback:

Dr. Torres

Email