Ron DeSantis reappoints Barbara Palmer as APD head

Governor-elect Ron DeSantis on Friday announced that Barbara Palmer will continue to serve as Director of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD).

“Barbara has spent many years working to advance the needs of Floridians with disabilities,” DeSantis said in a statement. “I have seen that she has the leadership capabilities and subject matter expertise needed to drive innovative public policy that will allow persons with disabilities to flourish in our communities for years to come.”

Palmer was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott in August 2012 to lead the agency; before that, she was APD’s Chief of Staff.

Palmer also has been Assistant Secretary for Administration for the Florida Department of Children and Families, and spent more than 15 years as President and CEO of Palmer, Musick & Associates.

She also was Chief Executive Officer of Illuminactive Multimedia, Inc.; Special Consultant for Governmental Affairs and Marketing for Pennington, Wilkinson & Dunlap; Director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants for the Florida Department of Business Regulation; Associate Vice President for Governmental Relations for Florida State University; Director of Women’s Intercollegiate Athletics for FSU, and Executive Director and Vice President of IMPACT Enterprises, Inc.   

Palmer has undergraduate and graduate degrees in Recreation Administration and Leisure Services Administration from Florida State University.