Phil Ammann
Gov. Rick Scott today reappointed Barbara Palmer as director of the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities.
Appointed director in August 2012, Palmer previously served as chief of staff since September 2011.
Before her role at APD, Palmer was assistant secretary for administration at the Department of Children and Families.
“Under her leadership, APD has been able to eliminate the critical needs waitlist and Florida has also become the first state in the nation to guarantee disabled children of active-duty service members the chance to receive care while their parents are deployed in Florida,” Scott said in a statement.
Palmer responded to the announcement by calling her APD job “a true passion.”
“Our team at APD will continue to strive to serve Florida families and remain focused on our mission to make Florida the best state in the nation for every family,” she added.
Prior to her tenure at APD, Palmer served more than 15 years as president and CEO of Palmer, Musick & Associates, as well as associate vice president for governmental relations at Florida State University. She was also the first women’s athletic director at FSU, and served as director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants in the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
