New Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, turned to a veteran of the state Legislature to continue to lead the Florida Defense Support Task Force (FDSTF).
According to the speaker’s office, the FDSTF “preserves, protects, and enhances Florida’s military missions and installations” and “works with Florida’s Base Commanders, helps improve transportation access to Florida’s military installations, and works to strengthen state support for military families and veterans, and more.”
At the end of last week, Sprowls tapped state Rep. Thad Altman, R-Indialantic, to continue as the chairman of the FDSTF.
First elected to the Brevard County Commission back in 1984, Altman first ran for the Florida House in 2000 but lost in the runoff. When fellow Space Coast Republican Mike Haridopolos left the House to successfully run for the Florida Senate in 2003, Altman ran and won his spot in the lower chamber. In 2008, Altman ran for the Senate when Bill Posey ran for Congress. After eight years in the Senate, Altman faced term limits in 2016 and returned to the House where he currently represents parts of Brevard County. Altman represents Patrick Air Force Base.
Sprowls named state Rep. Wyman Duggan, R-Jacksonville, who represents parts of Duval County including Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, to the task force last week. A veteran of the Marine Corps Reserve, Duggan was first elected to the Florida House back in 2018.
Other members of the task force include retired Rear Admiral Stanley Bozin, retired Air Force Brigadier General Chip Diehl, Major General James Eifert, retired Air Force Major General Richard Haddad, retired Air Force Colonel Jim Heald, Captain Keith Hoskins, businessman Tom Neubauer and state Sen. Tom Wright, R-Port Orange. Neubauer will serve as vice-chairman under Altman.
Reach Kevin Derby at kevin.derby@floridadaily.com.
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