Michael B. Surbaugh was the 13th Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), having succeeded the retiring Wayne Brock on October 1, 2015. He was previously Group Director of HR, Innovation, Exploring and Learning for Life for the BSA. Surbaugh first joined the organization as a professional scouter in 1983.[2]

Michael B. Surbaugh
Michael Surbaugh, 13th Chief Scout Executive, Boy Scouts of America
13th Chief Scout Executive
In office
October 1, 2015 – December 29, 2019
Preceded byWayne Brock
Succeeded byRoger C. Mosby
Personal details
SpouseLisa[1]
EducationSalem University

In November 2019, Surbaugh took a medical leave of absence.[3]

On December 29, 2019, Surbaugh's retirement was announced via an email to BSA volunteers. He was succeeded by Roger Mosby.

Background

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Surbaugh earned his Eagle Scout award in Troop 360 in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania in 1976[2] and served on the summer camp staff of the Allegheny Trails Council, the predecessor of the Laurel Highlands Council. He is a graduate of Salem College in West Virginia.[2]

Surbaugh has been met with criticism and praise for his changes in the BSA's admission policies.[3] During his administration, the Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America has removed the ban against homosexual adult membership, changed the membership application to allow youth to include the gender they identify with instead of requiring the gender on their birth certificate, and has started accepting girls into the Cub Scout and Boy Scout (now renamed Scouts BSA) programs.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Chief Scout Executive". About the BSA. Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 2019-09-17.
  2. ^ a b c "Local Boy Scouts get new top administrator". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 2007-10-16. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  3. ^ a b "At Stressful Time, Boy Scouts Top Boss Goes on Medical Leave". New York Times. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-08.
  4. ^ "Family Scouting". Boy Scouts of America. Retrieved 2018-04-06.
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Boy Scouts of America
Preceded by Chief Scout Executive
2015-2018
Succeeded by