Senator Bob Graham
Commissioner
Senator Bob Graham is the former two-term governor of Florida and served for 18 years in the United States Senate. This is combined with 12 years in the Florida legislature for a total of 38 years of public service. He was recognized by the people of Florida when he received an 83% approval ranking as he concluded eight years as Governor. Senator Graham retired from public service in January 2005, following his Presidential campaign in 2004.
Senator Graham is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from healthcare and environmental preservation to his ten years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - including 18 months as chairman in 2001-2002. Following the release of the Joint Inquiry's final report in July 2003, he steadfastly advocated reform of the intelligence community and sponsored legislation to bring about needed changes. In the fall of 2004 Senator Graham authored "Intelligence Matters" based upon his experiences gleaned during the joint inquiry and his analysis of the run up to the Iraq war.
After retiring from public life, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he lectured to undergraduate, graduate and executive management students.
Senator Graham is currently Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism whose mandate is to build on the work of the 9/11 Commission and complete a critical task: to assess our nation's progress in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and terrorism, and to provide a roadmap to greater security with concrete recommendations for improvement. The Commission's report, "World At Risk," was published in the Fall of 2008.
Additionally, Senator Graham is also the author of a new book about civic participation, entitled "America: The Owner's Manual." The goal of the book is to provide ordinary people with the means and motivation to go out and influence decision makers in order to achieve positive change in their neighborhoods and communities.
Senator Graham serves as the Chair of the Board of Overseers of the Graham Center for Public Service. This Center, with a home at the University of Florida, commenced programs in the fall of 2007 in the areas of Public Service, Homeland Security, and The Americas, subjects in which he has been deeply involved during his public career.
He and his wife Adele have returned to their home in Miami Lakes, Florida, and are enjoying more time with their four daughters and eleven grandchildren.