Office of Cabinet Affairs

The Office of Cabinet Affairs serves as DEP’s clearinghouse for all items for presentation to the Governor and Florida Cabinet, which includes the Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund and the Power Plant Siting Board.

The Office of Cabinet Affairs coordinates the preparation of Cabinet agenda items pertaining to the acquisition, administration, disposition and use of state lands with DEP's divisions and district offices, water management districts and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

Staff also provides technical and logistical support to the DEP executive staff, Cabinet level reviews of agenda items and transmittal of these items to the Governor and Cabinet. Serving as a liaison with the Cabinet offices, DEP's Office of Cabinet Affairs coordinates overall programmatic assignments with the deputy secretary of Land and Recreation or other DEP staff as needed.

Meet the Director

Justin “J.D.” Davis

Justin Davis has over ten years of public service with the state of Florida, serving most recently as a legislative consultant in the Office of Child Welfare at the Florida Department of Children and Families. He returned to DEP after working in the Office of Cabinet Affairs as a Senior Cabinet Aide, overseeing agency agendas, briefing documents, and communications with both internal and external stakeholders for the Board of Trustees.

With a true passion for public service, Justin also spent close to four years as a certified law enforcement officer with the Florida Highway Patrol as an academy instructor, SWAT team member and road trooper, before making the switch to civilian life. 

Justin holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Applied Social Science from Florida A&M University. He also holds an active Florida real estate sales license.

Justin resides in Two Egg, Florida with his wife and young children. In his free time, you may find him fishing, boating, camping or spending time with his family on their family farm. Justin has a passion for the outdoors which influences his drive to see lands come under conservation for the enjoyment of generations to come.