TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A top Florida official responsible for his state’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak is stepping down.
Jared Moskowitz heads Florida’s Division of Emergency Management and has overseen much of the state’s response to the outbreak.
He told the USA Today Network that an official announcement of his departure was expected Tuesday by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
DeSantis spoke to the media on Monday from Tallahassee and had nothing but praise when asked about Moskowitz.
“He’s worked extremely hard,” DeSantis said. “His family is almost a world away in some respects.”
Moskowitz, who was raised in South Florida and graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, said he won’t be leaving the job immediately but will stay on to allow for a “gradual transition.”
Moskowitz, 40, is a Democrat and former member of the state House.
He assumed the role shortly after the Republican governor took office in 2018.
“He’s done a fantastic job,” DeSantis said. “I think Florida has the best emergency response in the country.”
Moskowitz’s work in public service began in 2006 when at age 25 he was elected to the Parkland City Commission while he was studying law at Nova Southeastern University, according to his bio on the state’s emergency management website. He also served as a state representative for District 97 — representing Coral Springs, Tamarac, Sunrise and Plantation — from 2012-2019.
“My kids are 7 and 4. When I started this job, they were 5 and 2,” Moskowitz told the USA Today Network. “I’ve been in this job for 50% of my younger one’s life.”
Local 10 News added supplementary information to this report.