| Jennifer Carroll | |
|---|---|
| 18th Lieutenant Governor of Florida | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office January 4, 2011 |
|
| Governor | Rick Scott |
| Preceded by | Jeff Kottkamp |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the 13th district |
|
| In office 2003–2010 |
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| Succeeded by | Daniel Davis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 27, 1959 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Nolan Carroll, Sr. |
| Children | Nolan, Jr. Nyckie Necho |
| Residence | Fleming Island, Florida |
| Alma mater | Leeward Community College (A.A.) University of New Mexico (A.B.) Kensington University (M.B.A.) St. Leo University (M.B.A.) |
| Profession | Former Navy officer Businesswoman Politician |
| Religion | Christian |
| Military service | |
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1979–1999 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Commander |
Jennifer S. Carroll (born August 27, 1959) is a Trinidadian-born American politician who is the 18th and current Lieutenant Governor of the U.S. state of Florida. The first African American and the first woman elected to the position, she assumed the office on January 4, 2011.[1][2] Carroll previously served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2003 until 2010.
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Carroll was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. She moved to the United States at the age of eight. Two years after graduating from Uniondale High School in New York state, she enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1979. After serving as an Aviation Machinist Mate (Jet Mechanic), she was selected for Enlisted Commissioning Program, becoming an Aviation Maintenance Officer in 1985. She retired from the Navy in 1999 as a Lieutenant Commander. In 1981, she received an Associate of Arts degree from Leeward Community College. She followed this in 1985 with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of New Mexico. She moved to Florida in 1986. She received a Master of Business Administration degree from unaccredited diploma mill Kensington University in 1995,[3] and then earned another Master of Business Administration degree online from St. Leo University in 2008.[4]
Carroll is a member of the Clay County Republican Executive Committee. She made two unsuccessful bids for the United States House of Representatives in 2000 and in 2002. Following her defeat in the 2000 election, she was appointed as Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs serving in that post until July, 2002.[5] President George W. Bush appointed Carroll to the Commission on Presidential Scholars in 2001, and she left the position in 2004 after a CBS News investigation raised questions about her degree from Kensington University.[6][7]
Carroll was elected successively to the Florida House after winning a special election in April 2003, when she became the first African-American female Republican ever elected to the Florida Legislature.[8] She was appointed Deputy Majority Leader from 2003–2004, and served as Majority Whip in 2004–2006. She was Vice Chair of the Transportation and Economic Development Committee (2003–2004), Chair of the Finance Committee (2006–2008) and Chair of the Economic and Development Council (2008–2010).
On September 2, 2010, after winning the Republican primary, Rick Scott named Carroll his running mate in the 2010 Florida gubernatorial election.[9] Carroll thus became the second black woman to be a major party candidate for lieutenant governor in Florida's history, and the first black woman on any statewide Republican ticket.[1] Scott and Carroll won the election, and assumed office on January 4, 2011.[2] She is the second woman to hold the position of lieutenant governor, following Toni Jennings, who was appointed in 2003 to finish the term of Frank Brogan.
Carroll is married to Nolan Carroll, Sr., and has three children. Her son, Nolan Carroll, Jr., played college football for University of Maryland, and is now a member of the Miami Dolphins.[10][11]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jeff Kottkamp |
Lieutenant Governor of Florida 2011–present |
Incumbent |
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