Secretary E. Douglas Beach, Ph.d.
Secretary E. Douglas Beach, Ph.D.
On February 13, 2007, Governor Charlie Crist appointed Dr. E. Douglas Beach as the Secre-
tary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. Secretary Beach has worked in the aging network for
more than 12 years, most recently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Senior Resource Alli-
ance (Area Agency on Aging of Central Florida, Inc.), a planning, policy and resource agency serving
Florida’s seniors age 60 and older in Brevard, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties.
Secretary Beach was named CEO of the Senior Resource Alliance in September of 1999 and,
under his leadership, the organization’s annual budget rose from $16 to $25 million. The Senior
Resource Alliance became the first Aging and Disability Resource Center in Florida and has been
recognized as one of the Top 10 Information and Referral systems in the nation.
Previously, Secretary Beach served as the Staff Economist for Congressman David L. Hobson
(R-OH). He was responsible for developing, coordinating and implementing the Congressman’s
activities on the House of Representatives’ Budget Committee. Secretary Beach worked with the
Congressman to write and introduce major legislation promoting insurance coverage for long-term
care. Prior to his work in Washington, D.C., Secretary Beach served as the Deputy Director of Pro-
grams at the Ohio Department of Aging (ODA). He was responsible for managing a program bud-
get of more than $250 million, serving 1.9 million seniors in Ohio.
Secretary Beach is a founding member of the Orange County Commission on Aging and the
Brevard County Commission on Aging. He has also served on several other boards and commis-
sions, including the Florida Council on Aging, Florida Association of Area Agencies on Aging, Heart
of Florida United Way, Mayor of Orlando’s Senior Citizen Advisory Council, Orlando Regional Cham-
ber of Commerce, Orange County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the Southern Geronto-
logical Society.
Secretary Beach received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Kenyon College, a master’s
degree in agricultural economics from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in economics from
North Carolina State University.
