Terry Rhodes out as FLHSMV Executive Director

Terry Rhodes is stepping down as Executive Director of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ second term.

The Republican Governor announced Rhodes’ departure, which comes after nearly 8 years as FLHSMV’s Executive Director. He made the announcement in a statement posted to Twitter Monday morning.

“Her dedicated leadership and commitment to public service have made our roads safer for our state troopers and motorists who travel on them each day,” DeSantis said. “We wish her fair winds and following seas.”

Then-Gov. Rick Scott appointed Rhodes to lead FLHSMV in May 2014, near the beginning of his second term. Previously, she has held positions in the Department of Agriculture and the Senate.

Rhodes is the second major departure from the DeSantis administration as the Governor shifts into a higher gear for his second term, a usual time for officials to leave appointed office.

Also on her way out is Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller, who is retiring. DeSantis previously announced Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, Education Commissioner Manny Díaz, Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris will return for his new term.

FLHSMV oversees the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) and three other divisions: Motorist Services, Administrative Services and Information Systems Administration. The department helps issue driver’s licenses and ID cards, facilitates motor vehicle transactions, and provides consumer protection and public safety services.

The agency’s Executive Director answers to the Governor and the Cabinet.

Under Rhodes, the department, which turned 50 during her tenure, has made strides in modernizing driver’s licenses. In 2014, FLHSMV began developing digital driver’s license and ID cards as part of a program called Florida Smart ID. Digital licenses became available to the public last year.

This year, lawmakers raised the base pay of FHP troopers to $50,000 and gave them a 10% pay raise, a longtime goal of the department to reduce the high turnover and vacancies that have plagued the agency.