Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that University of Florida scientist Tom Frazer will be the state’s first Chief Science Officer. Frazer will lead efforts to address some of Florida’s most critical environmental challenges, including red tide and harmful algal blooms, which have impacted millions of Floridians, says Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources and head of the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“It’s a great honor to be asked to serve in this role, and I’m ready to start working with state leaders and our best researchers to protect our water and our environment,” Frazer says.

Prior to this appointment, Frazer was the director of the UF/IFAS School of Natural Resources and Environment, where he led faculty members from 56 departments across 12 colleges who worked on issues ranging from transitioning to renewable energy systems, preventing pollution, protecting biodiversity and climate change. Frazer will retain his faculty appointment at UF while serving as Chief Science Officer.