QUARTERMASTER  SEA SCOUTING'S HIGHEST RANK AWARDED TO
Lt. SEAN R. DRAPER, AP

Sean  was born on July 10, 1986, in Fountain Valley, California, the youngest son of Glenn and Jeanne Draper.  His three older siblings are Erin (Draper) George, Ian Draper, and Erik Draper. 

It has seemed to Sean that he has always been in Scouts.  Scouting is a family program, and as his brother Ian joined Cub Scouts when Sean was only three months old, and ever since has been on countless outings, campouts, and summer camps. 

In 1993, Sean joined Cub Scouting with Pack 85 in Lakewood, earning all of the Cub Scout ranks.  He graduated in 1997 to Troop 81 in Lakewood, and also earned all of the ranks in the Boy Scouting program. 

Sean joined the Tribe of Tahquitz in 2000, and served on the Tahquitz camp staff in the summer of 2001 as part of the Mountain Bike and High Adventure Center staff.  In the summer of 2005 he worked as Mountain Bike Director on the staff at Camp Decorah in Wisconsin, where he earned BSA Lifeguard.  The following summer he worked at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico on the Camping Headquarters Maintenance staff.  Sean has also served on the staff for various Boy Scout and Venture adult training courses, including Wood Badge and Powderhorn. 

In 2002, Sean joined Sea Scout Ship 1371 “WhiteShark” as a charter member.  He served in various Ship Petty Officer positions, before being elected in 2004 by the Ship’s company to Boatswain.  The Ship’s Boatswain is in charge of the youth, and with advice from the Skipper runs the program for the Ship.  In 2005, Sean completed the rigorous SEAL training program in Houston, Texas.  He has earned the Outdoor and Sea Scout Venturing Bronze awards.  He has also earned the Small Boat Handler and Qualified Seaman bars, and in 2005 earned the Long Cruise Badge award.  In 2007, after previously completing the requirements for the Apprentice, Ordinary, and Able ranks, Sean earned the rank of Quartermaster, the highest rank in Sea Scouts. 

Sean now serves as First Mate on WhiteShark, assisting the Skipper and holding the position as the ‘Keeper of the Boat’ for the Ship’s 34-foot Columbia sailboat. 

In 2003, the Tres Rios Power Squadron became the sponsoring organization for WhiteShark.  Most of the Ship’s members, both youth and adult, joined Tres Rios after completing a basic boating safety course in early 2004.  Sean has since completed Piloting in 2005, Seamanship and Instructor Development in 2006, and Advanced Piloting in 2007.  In 2005, Sean and the WhiteShark were awarded the Urban Beh award for outstanding seamanship after losing the steering on the WhiteShark when just outside of the Angel’s Gate to the Los Angeles harbor.  He serves as a Squadron Lieutenant, assisting with the Sea Scout Ship, helping to staff educational courses, and participating in most of the Squadron’s activities.  Sean has earned three Merit Marks, confirming his dedication to serving both Tres Rios and his community. 

In 2006, Sean joined the staff of Southern California Comfort Systems, a local heating and air conditioning company.  He has become the highly-valued number-one assistant to the owner and manager.