PirateQ 
Pensacola State College President Alex Kelly has been asked to serve on the Florida Defense Support Commission by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who announced the appointment on Friday, Oct. 30.
“The commission’s work is vital to our military-concentrated region in Northwest Florida,” Kelly said. “Pensacola State College has long served as a model in the state for supporting veterans, active-duty military personnel and their families in job training and educational pursuits for careers beyond their service. This volunteer role is a key priority as employers increasingly seek experienced veterans to fill high-skill, high-wage jobs in our region.”
According to the Florida Department of Commerce, the mission of the commission is to make recommendations to preserve and protect military installations, to support the state’s position in research and development related to or arising out of military missions and contracting, and improve Florida’s military-friendly environment for service members, military dependents, military retirees and businesses that bring military and defense-related jobs to the state.
The commission is composed of the governor, four gubernatorial appointees, the Florida Senate president and the speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
In addition to serving as Pensacola State College president and previously as secretary of the Florida Department of Commerce, Kelly has held leadership positions with the Foundation for Excellence in Education, the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs.