Hometown: DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Role: Deputy sergeant-at-arms, Florida Senate
Years of legislative service: Nine
One thing he loves about his state: “The environmental diversity. I grew up in a very rural small town. I could start my day out turkey hunting, then head to the Gulf to go snapper fishing. I haven’t seen many places where you can go from beautiful untouched forests to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, all in the same day.”
Why did you choose to work at the legislature?
I came to Tallahassee to pursue my degree at Florida State University. While here, I interned with the Florida Senate and loved everything about the Capitol. From there, I received a great offer from the Senate Sergeant’s Office and have been here ever since.
What skill or talent are you most proud of?
One talent I believe I have and am proud of is the ability to adapt and overcome obstacles. From my military and law enforcement career to massive protests at the Florida Capitol, it always seems like I’m going through something new and challenging. Even though I can feel overwhelmed at times, my amazing team and I always find a way to push through and get the job done.
What’s the best advice you were ever given?
One of the best pieces of advice I have received came from the President Pro Tempore Senator Aaron Bean. He mentioned that no matter how bad your day is going, do your best to give everyone you meet your full attention. He said that it might be your 100th meeting of the day, but to that person it’s their only meeting of the day. They may have driven hundreds of miles that day to tell you their problems. In this profession, you owe it to everybody to give them your best.
Who or what inspires you?
Two people inspire me more than anything. My amazing wife, Kinley Morgan, works alongside me in the Florida senate. She has never met a stranger. She always treats everyone with kindness. She quite literally keeps my life together. I can honestly say I don’t know what I would do without her. She even inspired me to go back to school, because even though she was busy with work and taking care of me, she found the time to go back and get her master’s from FSU. I can’t leave my mother off this list. My mother is about to retire after 30-plus years as a teacher. She raised me as a single mom. She made so many sacrifices to make me happy. She inspires me to never quit and to try to be selfless. If I turn out to be half as good a parent as her, my future children will be extremely lucky.
What are you currently reading/listening to/watching?
I’ve gone back to school to get my master’s degree, so I spend most of my time reading material associated with that. One of the topics I’m studying right now is unmanned aircrafts, or drones. In my opinion, this technology is the next big threat. The ability to strap items to a drone and fly it in into or over crowds and buildings, all from the comfort of a park bench 1,000 yards away, is an ever-growing threat in my profession.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
For its “Staff Snapshots” series, State Legislatures News is asking legislative staff about their role in the legislature. To suggest a staffer for this series, please use the email icon above to contact Holly South.