FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 20, 2016
LISA EDGAR APPOINTED AS DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA PARK SERVICE
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection today announced the appointment of Lisa
Edgar as Director of the Florida Park Service. In this role, Edgar will oversee
more than 1,000 committed Florida State Parks employees and work alongside more
than 29,000 volunteers and 84 Citizen Support Organizations to manage the best
state park system in the country. The appointment is effective mid-January.
“We’re excited to welcome Lisa
back to the department,” said DEP Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Gary
Clark. “She will bring a wealth of agency knowledge, superb leadership skills
and an understanding of, and appreciation for, Florida’s diverse environmental
resources to this role.”
Edgar previously served
as Deputy Secretary for DEP, where her responsibilities included executive
management oversight of the agency's budget, fiscal and strategic planning,
accountability measures, information technology, administrative services,
Florida Geological Survey, and coordination between the state and federal
government on environmental issues. She also served the state of Florida in
former roles as chief environmental policy analyst in the Governor’s Office of Policy
and Budget under Governors Chiles and Bush and a senior cabinet aide in the Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services.
Edgar most recently served
three terms on the Florida Public Service Commission, where she was appointed
by three different governors, including two years as Chairman. In November 2014, Edgar was elected President
of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) for a
one-year term. As NARUC President, Edgar provided general oversight of the
Association and served as NARUC’s primary voice before Congress, the courts,
administrative agencies, and the general public.
“I am honored both
by the opportunity to return to DEP, and to take on the role of Florida State
Parks director,” said Edgar. “From my time at DEP and as a frequent visitor of
our state parks, I’ve seen first-hand the high caliber of the Florida Park
Service team. I look forward to working with this team to continue to achieve
the Florida State Parks mission to provide resource-based recreation while
preserving, interpreting and restoring natural and cultural resources.”
Edgar received her Bachelor of Science and Juris Doctorate degrees
from Florida State University and is a member of the Florida Bar. She is a
member of Leadership Florida and has been involved in many state and community
organizations.
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