2021 Conference Wrap Up

Congratulations to our award winners at NATIA 2021.

• The Carter Richardson Memorial Scholarship is an educational award presented to two NATIA members or members’ dependents in honor of NATIA founding member and beloved chair of the Scholarship program, Carter Richardson.
  • Grace Ellison, daughter of member Aaron Reynolds and Sandra VanDevanter
  • Ryan Bocompani, son of member Kenneth Bocompani and Kimberly Bocompani
• The NATIA President’s Award is presented to a member who has made a significant contribution to the Association through their technical excellence anda. desire to share knowledge and information, which is the spirit in which NATIA was formed.
  • Fred Smith, retired DEA
    Fred has been an instructor with NATIA for about 20 years and has taught several popular classes during that time. After retiring from the DEA, and in the thick of the pandemic, he stepped up and volunteered to coordinate the presentation of online training for last year’s Virtual NATIA 2020.
• Thomas J. Soltow Award is awarded annually for outstanding service to the Association. Tom Soltow was a Detective with the Fairfax County Police Department in Northern Virginia. He joined NATIA in 1980 and was active until his untimely death in 1996 at the age of 48. Tom was dedicated to NATIA, and the spirit of volunteerism on which NATIA was founded.
  • James “J.J.” Teague, retired Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
    J.J. has been an active participant in NATIA for about 20 years, during which he has made a significant contribution to the success of the association by handling a wide variety of behind-the-scenes logistical tasks at annual conferences including security, equipment shipping, classroom set-up, and transportation. He has assisted with logistical arrangements not only for national conferences but at chapter meetings and training classes across the country. In addition, J.J. has served as a board member for our Southeast Chapter.