Michael DeMorat Appointed to Board; Deardoff and Figueroa Reappointed

Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Michael DeMorat to the Eastern Florida State College Board of Trustees and reappointed Bruce Deardoff and Dr. Edgar Figueroa to additional four-year terms.

Mr. DeMorat is the Chief Deputy of the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and is a 34-year law enforcement veteran.

A dedicated public servant, he has served on the Space Coast Early Intervention Center Board of Directors, the Serene Harbor Domestic Violence Shelter Board of Directors, and Central Florida Crimeline. He is currently an elder at Faith Reformed Presbyterian Church in Merritt Island. Mr. DeMorat earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of South Florida and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 277th Session.

“Trustee DeMorat’s executive leadership experience and firsthand understanding of public safety will bring a unique perspective to our Board of Trustees”, said College President Dr. Jim Richey. “I am confident that his proven track record of serving citizens at the highest levels will serve as a strong foundation for serving our students with that same level of excellence as we continue to expand opportunities for our students and strengthen the workforce on Florida’s Space Coast for a brighter future for us all.”

Dr. Edgar Figueroa was first appointed to EFSC’s Board of Trustees in July 2018 by then-Governor Rick Scott and reappointed in 2021 by Governor DeSantis. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board and has been instrumental in the College’s expansion to meet Florida’s growing high-tech workforce needs.

With more than 30 years of experience in general and trauma surgery, he is a physician and surgeon at Omni Health Care and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He previously served as a trauma surgeon at Health First Palm Bay Hospital with the Health First Medical Group.

Bruce Deardoff was also first appointed to the Board in July 2018 and reappointed by Governor DeSantis in 2021. He is the chairman of Deardoff Automotive Group and a former member of the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners where he helped guide the Port through a period of unprecedented growth that included more than $1 billion in capital spending on new projects. The work strengthened the Port’s role as an important engine of economic growth along the Space Coast and in Central Florida.

For more information about Eastern Florida State College, its leadership, and the Board of Trustees, visit easternflorida.edu.

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