TALLAHASSEE – Retired Army Lt. Col. Glenn Sutphin was appointed Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs by Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet during the Aug. 2 Cabinet Meeting. FDVA, on behalf of the Governor and three-member Cabinet, is the premier point of entry for Florida’s more than 1.5 million veterans to access earned services, benefits and support.
The agency operates a network of seven state veterans’ homes and provides statewide outreach to connect veterans with their earned services, benefits and support.
“I am humbled by the opportunity and look forward to expanding our advocacy to Florida’s veterans through expanded outreach and plans for additional state veterans’ homes,” said Sutphin.
The colonel served as Legislative Affairs Director and Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Military Affairs (Florida National Guard) from March 1999 until his appointment as FDVA Interim Executive Director on April 26, 2016.
“With more than 30 years of military service as a U.S. Army Officer in the Florida National Guard and nearly 20 years of experience at the Department of Military Affairs, Lt. Col. Sutphin is extremely qualified for this position,” said Governor Scott. “He has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to his fellow veterans, and I am confident he will continue to honorably serve our state and the many veterans who proudly call Florida home. I look forward to continuing to work with Lt. Col. Sutphin and the FDVA as we continue toward our goal of making Florida the most veteran friendly state in the nation.”
He succeeds retired Army Col. Mike Prendergast, who resigned March 29, 2016, to run for sheriff of Citrus County, Fla.
Sutphin entered active duty service as an enlisted soldier in 1969, received his commission as a Field Artillery Officer, and finished his military service in the Florida National Guard. The colonel, who is qualified in five branches of the Army, led soldiers in seven operational deployments during his 30 years in uniform before retiring in 1999.