GOP Florida governor enlists new officer to prepare state for rising sea level

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced Thursday that he was enlisting a chief resilience officer (CRO) to help the state prepare for rising sea levels. 

He chose Dr. Julia Nesheiwat as the CRO. She will work alongside several other state departments and agencies to prepare for sea level rise’s environmental, physical and economic impacts, according to a statement from the governor’s office. 

“Developing resilience goals for the state will help to protect our coastal communities and fortify Florida’s pathway to continued prosperity,” DeSantis said in a statement. {mosads}

“Dr. Nesheiwat’s more than 20 years’ experience operating at the highest levels of government and academia focusing on renewable energy, environmental and critical infrastructure issues make her an excellent choice for this position,” he added.

In the statement, DeSantis did not specifically mention climate change, but Nesheiwat did. 

“With 1,350 miles of largely low-lying coastline, the impacts from climate change and sea level rise present a significant challenge,” she said. “But with Governor DeSantis’ leadership and vision, Florida will be a leader for the entire country on how best to confront these issues.”

Nesheiwat has worked as the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of State and led operations at the Energy Resources Bureau, according to her resume.