Virginia Beach, Va. – Charles “Chuck” Kubic, a member of the Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout class of 1966, has been selected by the National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) to receive its highest Eagle Scout honor – the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. The award is granted to Eagle Scouts who, after 25 years, have distinguished themselves in their life work and have voluntarily shared their talents with their communities.  

“Chuck is the consummate Scouter and professional, having achieved great heights in both areas of his life,” said James Parnell, Scout Executive of Scouting America Tidewater Council. “He is a Scouting success story.”

Kubic began his Scouting adventure in 1958 as a Cub Scout in Pack 14 in his hometown of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, where he earned the Parvuli Dei Award and the Arrow of Light before crossing over to Troop 14. As a Boy Scout, Chuck was a patrol leader and troop scribe, earned the Ad Altare Dei award, and attended the 1964 National Jamboree in Valley Forge. He was elected to the Order of the Arrow in 1964 and was an Ordeal and Brotherhood member of Wagion Lodge #6. Chuck spent his high school years with High Adventure Explorer Post 414, serving as secretary-treasury, vice president, and president. He was a Philmont Expedition Crew Leader in July 1965 and advanced to Eagle Scout in November 1966.

As a Navy Ensign, after graduating with a Civil Engineer degree from Lehigh University, Chuck served as Scoutmaster for a multi-national BSA troop at the International School in Bangkok, Thailand, and as OA chapter advisor in Hinode Goya Lodge #498, which maintained its council fire near the historic “Bridge on the River Kwai.” Later in his Navy career, Chuck became a Tiger Cub parent and Cubmaster in Madrid, Spain, and Webelos den leader and Cubmaster in Springfield, Virginia, where he also served as assistant Scoutmaster and was a member of Amangamek Wipit Lodge #470.

In 1991, Chuck became Cubmaster for Tidewater Council’s Pack 493. He then served as assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 493 and became a Blue Heron Lodge #349 member. In 2014, Chuck was elected to the Tidewater Council Executive Board and served as Bayside district chair (2014-18), council executive vice president (2019), and council president (2020-23). He received the council’s District Award of Merit, Silver Beaver Award, James E. West Fellowship, and Second Century Society awards. Blue Heron Lodge awarded him the Vigil Honor. In May 2024, he received the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award from NESA.

Throughout his years in Scouting, Chuck was proud to see his two brothers, two sons, and two nephews all become Eagle Scouts.

In 1985, he was selected as a White House Fellow and served on the staff of President Reagan’s Domestic Policy Council. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Wharton School, and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Engineering by Lehigh University.  Chuck is a licensed Professional Engineer, and a Fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was awarded the Sigma Phi Epsilon Citation Award for lifetime achievement in 2013.

Kubic retired as a Rear Admiral and Commander of the 1^st Naval Construction (Seabee) Division after 32 years of active service.  He has a strong record of combat leadership, commanding Navy Seabees at the Company, Detachment, Battalion, Regiment, Brigade and Division level, including during   Operation Iraqi Freedom as chronicled in his book Bridges to Baghdad. He became president of an international construction company in 2005, and then founded his consulting firm, Kubic Engineer Group, in Virginia Beach in 2012.

In his own words, “It has been a rare privilege to work alongside extraordinary Scout volunteers and professional Scouters while guiding the development of our nation’s very best youth as they live the Scout Oath and follow the Scout Law each day on their way to becoming our nation’s leaders of tomorrow.”

Chuck will receive the NESA Distinguished Eagle Scout Award at the Scouting America Tidewater Council Pathfinder Dinner on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at the Westin Virginia Beach Town Center.