The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), whose mission is to honor the fallen, tell the story of American law enforcement and make it safer for those who serve, announced on September 24 that Ben Bolton was the winner of the annual Ambassador Impact Award.

The Ambassador Impact Award highlights the success and contributions of NLEOMF’s volunteer ambassadors. Designed to recognize the impact that an active member has had on the growth of the program through outreach and fundraising, this high-profile award is given to those who work to ensure the fulfilment of mission accomplishments related to the NLEOMF Memorial, Museum and Officer Safety and Wellness programs.

Bolton is a retired sergeant from the Alexandria Police Department in Virginia, where he served for 25 years before retiring in 2013. Throughout his law enforcement career, he was deeply committed to honoring fallen officers and supporting their families, serving on the National Police Week Committee for 23 years. In that role, he worked closely with both Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. He also served proudly as a member of his agency’s Honor Guard Unit.

Following his retirement from policing, Ben continued his service to the broader public safety community. He worked with the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center, where he provided technology assistance to state and local agencies nationwide and supported NIJ’s Body Armor Standards and Testing Program. He later served as a policy analyst with the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), where he contributed to the Emergency Communications Division. Today, he continues his public service as a government contractor for the Department of Defense.

In October 2022, Ben became a law enforcement ambassador for the Memorial, where he quickly became a leader within the program. He currently serves on the Ambassador Steering Committee, the Presentations Subcommittee and assists with interviewing new candidates. As a chapter lead, he provides mentorship and guidance to fellow ambassadors. He also plays a critical role in outreach, helping agencies navigate the process of submitting line-of-duty death paperwork to ensure fallen officers are properly honored on the Memorial wall.

Bolton holds a bachelor’s degree in administration of justice and a master’s degree in public administration, both from George Mason University. His lifelong commitment to public safety, advocacy and service to the law enforcement community exemplifies the spirit of the Ambassador Impact Award.

The Ambassador Impact Award will be formally presented to Bolton during the organization’s Annual Awards Ceremony and Reception at the National Law Enforcement Museum on the evening of Friday, September 26. The award will be presented alongside the winners of the Destination Zero Officer Safety and Wellness Awards, as well as the 2025 Officers of the Month.

—www.NLEOMF.org—