In celebration of their 10th Anniversary, FORCE BLUE Co-Founders establish Advisory Board
FORCE BLUE Co-Founders Establish Advisory Board; Re-Launch Apparel Store; Plan New Missions and Initiatives to Commemorate America 250
Mt. Pleasant, SC – June 1, 2026 – In celebration of its 10th anniversary and in an effort to capitalize on the excitement surrounding America’s semi-quincentennial, the Co-Founders of FORCE BLUE recently announced several changes to the organization’s operations for 2026.
“Many non-profits fail to survive one year, much less ten,” said FORCE BLUE Executive Director and Co-Founder Jim Ritterhoff. “We thought it was important to mark this milestone, but to do so in a way that sets us up for even greater success.”
This spring, FORCE BLUE will be establishing its first-ever advisory board, a consortium of individuals with experience in all aspects of FORCE BLUE’s mission set, including marine science and conservation, veterans affairs, mental health, and youth mentorship.
“Now that we have proven our concept, the goal is to expand our family,” said Co-Founder Rudy Reyes. “To bring on board the best minds and the biggest hearts to assist us in our mission to preserve and restore not just the marine environment, but our veteran community as well.”
2026 will also be a banner year for FORCE BLUE’s National Marine Sanctuaries “Tour of Duty,” a program launched in 2023 which, to date, has seen FORCE BLUE veterans complete marine conservation missions and community engagement events in five of NOAA’s eighteen currently designated marine sanctuaries. FORCE BLUE plans to visit three additional sanctuaries this year, with missions spanning the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as well as the Great Lakes.
“As we celebrate the 250th birthday of our country, it’s especially important that we call attention to these national treasures and the steps being taken to protect them,” said Keith Sahm, FORCE BLUE’s Chief Operations Officer and Co-Founder.
In yet another expression of FORCE BLUE’s commitment to the National Marine Sanctuary system, the organization will move its highly successful Ocean Conservation School (OCS) to Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in Alpena, Michigan beginning in August.
The program, which provides NAUI open-water dive certification training and marine conservation education to Gold Star children, children of wounded and severely injured veterans, and veteran families, was previously held in Florida and has graduated more than 50 students to date.
To further commemorate its 10th anniversary, FORCE BLUE will relaunch its online apparel store this summer. Hats, t-shirts, hoodies, and other merchandise featuring the organization’s signature “10th Anniversary” logo, along with rash guards from previous Super Bowl missions, will be available to supporters who wish to proudly represent FORCE BLUE’s mission.
Lastly, the organization has set October 22 as the date for its annual gala celebration, the 2026 FORCE BLUE Tattoo, to be held at the Yale Club in New York City. Those interested in sponsoring a table or purchasing tickets in advance can do so online.