TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Former House Speaker Paul Renner was appointed to the state university system's Board of Governors by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday.
Paul Renner, 57, served as House Speaker for the 2022-2024 legislative term. During that time, Renner, a Republican, represented House District 19 which includes Flagler County and parts of St. Johns County.
Overall, Renner served in the Legislature for nine years after winning a special election in 2019.
Renner is a U.S. Navy veteran and was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer. Among his military operations, Renner served in the Gulf War during Operation Desert Storm and was a Small Boat Officer for the destruction of floating Iraqi mines.
Before service, Renner graduated from Davidson College and law school from the University of Florida (UF) in 1994. After UF, Renner served as a state prosecutor working high-profile misdemeanor cases and felony cases as an attorney in the Felony Trial Unit.
Still in the Reserves, Renner was called to serve as an Intelligence Officer in Afghanistan in 2011. During that time, Renner focused on counter-terrorism efforts and was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.
He currently is an attorney for Nelson Mullins in Orlando.
The Board of Governors has 17 members, 14 of which are appointed by the Florida Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate for a term of seven years. Other members include Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. and Chairman Brian Lamb.
Other seats are filled by the chair of the Advisory Council of Faculty Senates, the Commissioner of Education, and the chair of the Florida Student Association.
This appointment is effective April 15 if approved by the Senate.
