NASW Foundation National Programs

NASW Social Work Pioneers^®

Paul Bollwahn

Lt. Colonel Paul Bollwahn, ACSW, CSWM, served as National Social Services Secretary of The Salvation Army from 1995 until June 30, 2006, when he was transferred to Los Angeles, CA, to serve as Divisional Commander of the Southern California Division. While serving as
National Social Services Secretary his office provided consultation, was inter-organizational liaison with 35 national organizations and coalitions, and provided legislation and professional support to Salvation Army leadership and national committees and commissions.

Paul Bollwahn attended the University of Nebraska, and received his BS from Olivet University.  He received his MSW from the Jane Adams Graduate School of Social Work, and did post­ graduate work at the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago and the International Staff College in London. He was recipient of the Citation for Distinguished Human Services Leadership by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the Distinguished Service to Christianity in Social Work by the North American Associations of Christians in Social Work He has also received several awards for his leadership.

His earlier employment work consisted of serving as the director of a settlement house in Evanston, Illinois, assistant director of the Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in St. Louis, Mo, and social services secretary at the Salvation Army Headquarters in Chicago.

Paul is being nominated as a NASW Pioneer because of the leadership he provided in furthering the professional focus of social services of the Salvation Army. This was shown in the consultation he provided social services programs throughout the United States as well as the training programs he developed not only in the United States but at training sessions he developed for Salvation Army Haiti attending International Conferences of Social Welfare held every two years throughout the world. He also developed training programs for such national organizations as the American Correctional Association.