Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Jacksonville attorney Daniel Bean to the St. Augustine Airport Authority, the governor’s office announced Dec. 30.
The appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
Bean is counsel in the litigation practice of Smith, Gambrell & Russell.
A 25-year U.S. Navy veteran who was a surface warfare officer and judge advocate, he also is CEO of K-9s for Warriors and chair of the FreshMinistries Inc. board of trustees.
He is president of the USS Orleck/Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association, past chair of the Jacksonville Port Authority board of directors, chair of the Northeast Florida Mission United Advisory Council, a member of the Five Star Veterans Center board of directors and vice-chair of the Florida College Prepaid Foundation.
Bean attended Vanderbilt University on a Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship. He received a J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law on a Navy Law Education Program Scholarship.
He was the 2024 Jacksonville Daily Record Lawyer of the Year.
In September, DeSantis’ office announced he had appointed Gerald Dedge, Mario Dipola and Nick Primrose to the board to replace Reba Ludlow, Dennis Clarke and Len Tucker. Ludlow, Clarke and Tucker resigned in August after a State Attorney’s investigation found they violated Florida’s Sunshine Law by holding private discussions about official business. The three each paid a $120 legal fee in exchange for charges being dropped.
Board member Jennifer Liotta resigned in October. According to media reports, her resignation was entirely voluntary.