Personal & Career

Legislative Service

• Elected to the Senate in 2024, prior Senate 2006-2016Senate President 2012-2014
  

Other Public Service

• Florida Ethics Commissioner, 2021-2023

• Triumph Gulf Coast, Chairman, 2018-2023

• Constitution Revision Commission, 2017-2018

• Okaloosa School Board, elected Superintendent, 2000-2006

• Okaloosa School Board, Chairman, 1995-1996, Member, 1994-2000

• Seaside, Florida, Town Chairman, 1990-1991

Honors and Awards

• National Council of State Legislatures/Americans for the Arts, Preeminent U.S. Legislator in Public Leadership in the Arts

• International Television and Film Festival of New York, Gold Medal Award

• National Association of Workforce Boards, Nation's Legislative Leader in Career-Technical Education

• American Medical Association, Most Outstanding Senator

• American Association of Physician Specialists, Distinguished Service Award

• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters

• Flagler College, Honorary Doctor of Laws

• Concordia College, President's Award; Alumni Achievement Award; Soli Deo Gloria Award

• Leukemia Society of America, Person of the Year

• National Debate Coaches Association, Life Achievement Award

• National Hospice Organization, Founders Award, Architect of Hospice Award

• Grey2K USA, National Greyhound Leadership Award

• Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, George Washington Honor Medal

• National Rifle Association, Rough Rider Award

• Florida National Guard, Congressman C.W. Bill Young Award

• Army JROTC, Sword of Leadership

• ARC of Florida, Hero Award, Citizen of the Year Award

• Florida Special Olympics, Humanitarian of the Year Award

• Florida Council on Aging, Champion of the Elderly

• Florida Dental Association, Legislator of the Year

• Florida Medical Association, Legislator of the Year

• Florida Cancer Society, Legislator of the Year

• Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Outstanding Senator of the Year

• Florida Hospices, Inc., Outstanding Legislator Award

• Florida Health Care Association, Legislator of the Year

• Florida Police Chiefs Association, Award of Merit

• Florida Prosecutors Association, Legislator of the Year

• Florida Trend Magazine, Florida's Education Trendsetter

• Workforce Florida, Champion of the Florida Workforce, Lt. Governor Toni Jennings Award

• Florida Guardian ad Litem Association, Guardian of Florida's Children, Honorary Guardian ad Litem

• Florida Association of Child Advocacy Centers, Legislator of the Year

• Okaloosa-Walton Child Care Services, Extraordinary Service to Children and Youth Award

• Seaside, Robert and Daryl Davis Town Builder Award

• Commodore of the City of Green Bay, Admiral Flatley Park, Environmental and Historic Preservation Award

Affiliations

• International Churchill Society, Fellow

• Irish Politicians Club

• Capitol Hill Club, Washington, DC

• National Press Club, Washington, DC

• Churchill Center, Washington, DC

• Theodore Roosevelt Assn, Sagamore, NY

• C-400 Club, Moorhead, MN

Biographical Information

Occupation:Retired healthcare executiveSpouse:Victoria Quertermous of Fort Walton Beach, FLChildren:Matt, ErinGrandchildren:JuliaEducation:

• Concordia College, B.S., Religion and Political Science, 1971Student Body President
  National Speech and Debate Champion
  Alumnus of the Year
  Soli Deo Gloria Award
  

• Troy State University, Master of Public Administration, 1999Alumnus of the Year
  

Born:in Rugby, North Dakota. Moved to Florida in 1978.Historical:Matt Gaetz. son, former U.S. Congressman; Jerry Gaetz, father, former mayor and senatorReligious Affiliation:LutheranRecreation:Antiques, real estate, U.S. history