Dan Ownby, the 38th national chair of the BSA, is one of the organization’s top two volunteers (along with the national commissioner). As national chair, his responsibilities include serving as chairman of meetings of the National Council and providing oversight to the BSA’s strategic plan.
As an Eagle Scout, Wood Badge holder, World Scout Foundation BP Fellow, and Leader Trainer, Ownby has demonstrated his passion for Scouting at all levels, including contributing globally by acting as a “bridge-builder” for different National Scout Organizations (NSOs) around the world.
Dan has served as a member of the World Scout Committee (2011-2017), Chairman of the WOSM Finance Committee (2011-2014), and Vice Chairman of the World Scout Committee (2014-2017). During his terms, he led the development of the Human Rights Task Force and was twice a member of the Secretary General Search Committee. It was here that Dan introduced a greater sense of management and accountability in the areas of finance, governance, human resources, and reporting to the World Scout Committee and the World Scout Bureau at large.
Over the years, Dan has been an enthusiast supporter of the global profile of the Movement and has gone above and beyond to bring improvements to the educational aspects of International Scouting. He was a leading planner and organizer for the last four World Scout Jamborees, serving as the deputy camp chief at the 23rd World Scout Jamboree in 2015, in Yamaguchi, Japan.
Dan has also been an active contributor to various other World and Regional youth events, supporting the operations of NSOs and channeling resources to foster the growth of Scouting in different parts of the world.
Dan has been a tireless champion for Scouting through different positions at the Council and National levels, most recently as International Commissioner, before taking on his current role as National Chair for 2020-2022.
Ownby follows recent BSA national chairs Jim Turley, former global chairman and CEO of Ernst & Young; Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO of AT&T; former U.S. Secretary of Defense Dr. Robert M. Gates; Wayne M. Perry, former CEO and vice chairman of Edge Wireless (AT&T Wireless); and former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.