Former U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw joins Public Policy Institute Board

Former U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, who represented Florida’s Fourth Congressional District for 16 years and was awarded the U.S. Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award, its highest civilian honor, is joining the Board of Advisors for the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute.

During his tenure, Crenshaw established himself as a respected voice on defense issues and a champion for the military. He fought for key priorities for Northeast Florida and led the way to bring the Jacksonville National Cemetery to the area.

Crenshaw was also instrumental in making Naval Station Mayport the East Coast homeport for all Littoral Combat Ships and Naval Air Station Jacksonville the East Coast home for all P-8 aircraft (full biography below).

”The Institute is honored to have Ander Crenshaw join the Board of Advisors, and his extraordinary public policy experience, depth and expertise will be an invaluable contribution to the Institute and the Board,” said Rick Mullaney, Director of the Institute.

Prior to Congress, Crenshaw worked in the private sector as an investment banker and served as Florida’s first Republican Senate President. Job creation and economic prosperity for all have been the driving forces behind his public service.

The 25-member Board of Advisors is comprised of some of Florida’s most distinguished business, civic and community leaders, including 15 CEOs from public, private and non-profit organizations.

Crenshaw will attend the Institute’s next board meeting Feb. 16 with special guest and keynote speaker Gwen Graham, former Congresswoman from Florida’s Second Congressional District.

“Jacksonville University is taking its rightful place in Florida for graduate study in public policy, and for advancing discussion of matters of importance in public policy,” said JU President Tim Cost. “Ander Crenshaw has had a distinguished career in Congress, as President of the Senate in the Florida Legislature, and in the private sector as an investment banker. His depth and breadth of experience will add greatly to the mission of JU and the Public Policy Institute.”

About the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute

The Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute offers four graduate degree programs in public policy, including the only Master in Public Policy (MPP) degree in Florida, and prepares its students for diverse career opportunities in the public, privative and non-profit sectors. The Institute seeks to shape the future through preparing a new generation of leaders, public policy expertise, and providing a neutral gathering place for public policy discussion, education and debate. More information is at http://www.ju.edu/ppi.

BIOGRAPHY

The Honorable Ander Crenshaw

Former Congressman Ander Crenshaw was elected to Congress in 2000 and represented Florida’s Fourth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for eight terms. Over the years, he represented 12 counties including Baker, Nassau, and Duval counties. When he retired, he was a member of the House Appropriations Committee.

Prior to going to Washington, Crenshaw worked both in the private sector, as an investment banker, and served as an elected official in the State Legislature. His life in public service ultimately led to the Florida State Senate where he served as its first Republican President.

During his tenure in Congress, Crenshaw established himself as a respected voice on defense issues and a champion for our men and women in uniform. He fought for key priorities for Northeast Florida like making Naval Station Mayport the East Coast homeport for all Littoral Combat Ships and Naval Air Station Jacksonville the East Coast station for all P-8 aircraft. These moves not only brought missions and jobs to our Northeast Florida community but also secured the future of both bases from forthcoming BRACs.

Crenshaw led the way to bring the Jacksonville National Cemetery to NE Florida. He fought to make Naval Station Mayport a nuclear aircraft carrier homeport and secured the funding for three of the five required projects to do so. Knowing that at the time, a carrier would not come to Jacksonville, Crenshaw insured that an Amphibious Ready Group, including the Iwo Jima, the New York, and the Fort McHenry were homeported at Mayport.

In 2013, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus recognized Crenshaw’s dedication to the nation’s Sailors and Marines and awarded him the Navy’s highest civilian honor – The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.

Other projects that are credited to Crenshaw are the U.S. Marine Corps’ purchase of Blount Island to establish its pre-positioning command, the renovation of the Naval Hospital at NAS Jacksonville, the building of both the largest helicopter hangar and largest hangar in the Navy to house the P-8s at NAS and the Navy’s premier fitness and aquatic center at Mayport.

Additionally, he worked to build military housing, high-tech training centers for the LCS and the P-8s, and guided the establishment of the unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 headquarters at NAS. He made sure the Florida National Guard, the Coast Guard and the Customs and Border Protection services received new facilities for their missions.

Originally a member of the House Armed Services, Budget, and Veterans Affairs committees, Crenshaw ended his service as a member of the Appropriations Committee, where he chaired the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, sat on the prestigious Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, and served on the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. Additionally, he was a member of the Republican Leadership Whip Team serving as a Deputy Majority Whip.

Representative Crenshaw gained a reputation for being a strong advocate for strengthening and rebuilding our military, enacting responsible and permanent tax relief, and standing up for projects vital to Northeast Florida. Long an advocate of job creation and economic prosperity for Florida, Crenshaw worked to secure projects that benefit the Port of Jacksonville, local beaches, and other important economic drivers.

His major legislative accomplishment was to shepherd the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act through Congress. This legislation affected millions of citizens who have disabilities, as it allows pre-tax, private fund savings accounts to be established for the purpose of supporting the needs of those with special needs.

A third-generation resident of Northeast Florida, Congressman Crenshaw attended Lee High School, the University of Georgia on a basketball scholarship, and later received his law degree from the University of Florida.

Crenshaw and his wife, Kitty, live in Jacksonville. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters.