Glenn Ault, a past council president, past region president and recipient of several of Scouting’s top awards, has been named the 2026 National Jamboree Chair. The event will be held on July 22-31, 2026, at The Summit Bechtel Reserve.
Among Ault’s first duties will be assembling the rest of the leadership team for one of the most significant moments in Scouting.
“I have been involved in the leadership of the National Jamboree since 2010 and I am honored to lead an amazing team of volunteers to deliver the BSA’s premiere event,” Ault says. “I am looking forward to working with my team to deliver that once-in-a-lifetime experience for Scouts.”
Ault, a professor of surgery at USC and physician director of graduate medical education at Keck Medicine of USC, has served a variety of roles for every Jamboree since 2010, when he served as associate chief medical officer.
In 2013, he served as chief medical officer. In 2017, he moved to administration chairman. And in 2023, he served as chair of Youth Protection Training.
“Being involved at various levels of Jamboree leadership in the past has prepared me to work with all of our executive committee to provide an outstanding Jamboree,” Ault says. “Those roles have given me a broad appreciation for each part of the Jamboree.”
Many years of dedication to Scouting
Ault is an Eagle Scout and a lifetime member of the National Eagle Scout Association.
He has served as council president, chairman of the board and council executive board member for the Greater Los Angeles Area Council. He has also served as area and region president, and is a former vice-chairman and current member of the National Order of the Arrow committee.
Ault’s Scouting recognitions include the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope and Silver Buffalo awards, along with the Order of the Arrow Founder’s Award, OA Distinguished Service Award and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is a Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow.
Perhaps more important than all of that, though, is the experience he had as a youth at the 1977 National Jamboree at Moraine State Park in Pennsylvania, when he first gained an appreciation of what the Jamboree means to its participants.
“The National Jamboree provides me the opportunity to be with my friends from across Scouting and to deliver an event that most Scouts will only experience once in their life,” says Ault. “It is that opportunity to work with others to provide this event which is special to me.
“I think for most youth and adults, they will only attend the Jamboree once in their Scouting career, so for them it is their only opportunity to experience all that the Jamboree has to offer.”
What is a National Jamboree?
The National Jamboree is a gathering of thousands of youth and adult BSA members. Every Jamboree since 2013 has been held at The Summit Bechtel Reserve.
The first Jamboree was held in 1937 in Washington, D.C.
Activities include rock climbing, zip lining, skateboarding, biking, target sports, aquatics and much, much more.
Stay tuned in the coming months for more information on the 2026 event.
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