Florida Senate President Reappoints EDC’s Lynda Weatherman to Florida is For Veterans, Inc. Board of Directors

Veterans Florida is a non-profit created to help military veterans transition to civilian life

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – President of The Florida Senate Kathleen Passidomo has reappointed the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast President & CEO Lynda L. Weatherman to the Florida is For Veterans, Inc. Board of Directors.

Florida is for Veterans, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation created within the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.

To promote Florida as a veteran-friendly state to retired and recently separated military personnel; to promote the value of military skill sets to businesses in the state; to facilitate workforce training to veterans to meet the needs of employers; and to enhance the entrepreneurial skills of veterans.

Veterans Florida is a non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military veterans transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state. Veterans Florida provides powerful tools for veterans to take advantage of the benefits of living and working in the Sunshine State.

Through its Career Services Program, Veterans Florida connects veterans with employers who are eager to hire veterans for jobs that put their particular military skills to use. They also assist veterans in creating a winning resume and preparing for job interviews. Employers receive veteran recruiting assistance and may apply for our Workforce Training Grant.

The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program provides all the knowledge needed to successfully launch and operate a business. As soon as their business is up and running they keep them connected with mentors and resources.

Weatherman, as President & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast since 1994, is responsible for the attraction of new business and investment and retention of existing industry throughout the Space Coast.

Her role also includes influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, assisting industry in new market entry, relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high-tech companies, and supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, which includes the retention of the Space Coast’s Naval Ordnance Test Unit through the reversal of a BRAC Commission decision.

Under Weatherman’s leadership, the EDC’s recent accomplishments include $1.8B in capital investment resulting from the announcement of over 50 business development projects over a ten-year period (FY 10/20), the attainment of the assembly and checkout of NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle, and facilitation of the first-ever Space Act agreement between Kennedy Space Center and an economic development organization.

Other recent accomplishments include the attraction of Boeing Space and Launch Headquarters, Lockheed Martin Fleet Ballistic Missile Headquarters, Blue Origin’s manufacturing and processing facility for its Orbital Launch Vehicle, RUAG Space USA, Inc., and the expansions of Embraer, Thales, and Northrop Grumman.

In 2007, Weatherman was honored with the NASA Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest honor NASA awards to both government and non-government employees.

Weatherman served from 2009-2014 as a member of the Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Jacksonville Branch, where she presided as Chair in 2011 and again in 2014.

In 2010, Weatherman was appointed to then Governor-elect Rick Scott’s Economic Development Transition Team, tasked with identifying innovative ideas from the private sector, success stories from other states, cost-saving opportunities and legislative priorities to assist the then-Governor-elect.

That same year, Weatherman was selected to be a member of the Air Force Chief of Staff Civic Leader Program, serving as an advisor, key communicator, and advocate for the Air Force and providing ideas and feedback to the Secretary of the Air Force and Air Force Chief of Staff.

In 2011, the EDC was awarded the Florida Economic Development Council’s “Deal of the Year” award for its work in the AAR recruitment project.

The Council also awarded Weatherman its 2011 “Professional of the Year,” recognizing excellence among economic development practitioners throughout Florida. Additionally, in 2011 and 2012, the International Economic Development Council recognized the EDC with three “Excellence in Economic Development” awards.

In 2019, Weatherman was appointed to serve on the Veterans Florida Board of Directors by Florida Senate President Senator Bill Galvano. In addition, in 2019, Weatherman was inducted as a Laureate in the Space Coast Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame. She was appointed to serve as the 2020 Campaign Chair for United Way of Brevard.

In 2022, LEAD Brevard announced the recognition of Weatherman as the recipient of the 2023 Rodney S. Ketcham Leadership Icon Award.

Under Weatherman’s leadership, the EDC’s recent accomplishments include:

■ $1.8 billion in capital investment resulting from the announcement of over 50 business development projects,

■ The attainment of the assembly and checkout of NASA’s Crew Exploration Vehicle,

■ Facilitation of the first-ever Space Act agreement between Kennedy Space Center and an economic development organization, and the

■ Attraction of Boeing Space and Launch Headquarters, Lockheed Martin Fleet Ballistic Missile Headquarters, Blue Origin’s manufacturing and processing facility for its Orbital Launch Vehicle, RUAG Space USA, Inc., and the expansions of Embraer, Thales, and Northrop Grumman.

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