Author Biography: Bob Graham

Senator  Bob Graham is the former two–term governor of Florida and served for 18 years  in the United States Senate. This is combined with 12 years in the Florida  legislature for a total of 38 years of public service. As Governor and Senator,  Bob Graham was a centrist, committed to bringing his colleagues together behind  programs that served the broadest public interest. He was recognized by the  people of Florida when he received an 83% approval ranking as he concluded  eight years as Governor. Bob Graham retired from public service in January  2005, following his Presidential campaign in 2004.

Bob  Graham is recognized for his leadership on issues ranging from education,  economic development, health care and environmental preservation to his ten  years of service on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence — including  eighteen months as chairman in 2001–2002. Following the release of the Joint  Inquiry’s final report in July 2003, Senator Graham steadfastly advocated  reform of the intelligence community and sponsored legislation to bring about  needed changes. In the fall of 2004 Senator Graham authored “Intelligence  Matters” based upon his experiences gleaned during the joint inquiry and his  analysis of the run up to the Iraq war.

After  retiring from public life, Senator Graham served for a year as a senior fellow  at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government where he lectured to undergraduate,  graduate and executive management students. His primary focus was on civic  education and intelligence issues, which continue to be of great importance to  him.

Senator  Graham was appointed in May of 2010 by the President to serve as Co-Chair of  the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore  Drilling.  The Commission’s task was to examine the root causes of the oil  disaster and to develop recommendations for guarding against, and mitigating  the impact of, future oil spills associated with offshore drilling.  The  Commission delivered its final report to the President on January 11,  2011.

Senator Graham also served as a Commissioner on  the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, established by Congress to examine the  global and domestic causes of the recent financial crisis.  The Commission  provided its findings and conclusions in a final report to Congress on January  27, 2011.

Senator  Graham served as the Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of  Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism whose mandate was to build on the work  of the 9/11 Commission and complete a critical task: to assess the nation’s
progress in preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and  terrorism, and to provide a roadmap to greater security with concrete  recommendations for improvement. The Commission’s report, “World At Risk,” was  published in the fall of 2008.  Currently he serves as chairman of the WMD  Center a 501c3 not for profit research organization which continues the work of  the Commission.

In addition to his commission related activities, Senator Graham also  serves as a member of the CIA External Advisory Board.  As a member,  Senator Graham serves as an informal advisor to the Director and other senior  leaders of the Agency.  Graham is a member of the board of directors of the Graham Companies,  agricultural and real estate companies; Well Care, a Florida based health care  firm; as a public member on the American Institute of Certified Public  Accountants; and ACT, a national testing
firm.

Senator Graham  is also the author of a book published in 2009 about civic participation,  entitled “America: The Owner’s Manual.”  The goal of the book is to  provide ordinary people with the means and motivation to go out and influence  decision makers in order to achieve positive change in their neighborhoods, communities,  state and nation.

Senator  Graham has also been a regular contributor to National Public Radio’s Morning  Edition, a frequent guest on CNN, Fox and MSNBC news, and has authored numerous  opinion editorials for newspapers. Since retirement, his commentaries have  appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, The Financial Times, Chicago  Tribune, Boston Globe, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Charlotte Observer,  Washington Times, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, St. Petersburg Times, South  Florida Sun Sentinel, Sarasota Herald Tribune, Gainesville Sun, Palm Beach  Post, Tallahassee Democrat and the Tampa Tribune.

Senator  Graham serves as the chair of the Board of Overseers of the Graham Center for  Public Service. The Center, with its home at the University of Florida, was  formally established in March of 2008 with public and civic leadership as its  primary programs.  Through the Joint Center on Citizenship in conjunction  with the Lew Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida he is enhancing  the teaching of civics in the elementary and secondary schools of Florida.

In June, 2011, Graham’s first novel, “Keys to the Kingdom,” was  published.  This novel of suspense draws upon his background in government  and intelligence.

Since  his retirement, Senator Graham has been recognized by national and Florida  organizations for his public service. These include:

• The Woodrow Wilson Institute award for Public Service
• The National Park Trust Public Service award
• The Everglades Coalition Hall of Fame
• The Florida Homebuilders Hall of Fame
• The largest bridge in Florida, constructed while he was Governor, was renamed the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge
• LeRoy Collins Lifetime Leadership Award from Leadership Florida
• An honorary doctorate of public service from his alma mater, the University of Florida.
• Honorary doctorate from Pomona College
• Honorary doctorate from Nova Southeastern University
• Honorary member of the American Society of Landscape Architects
• In 2011 he was designated a Great Floridian by the state of Florida.

Bob  and Adele have returned to their home in Miami Lakes, Florida, and are enjoying  more time with their four daughters and eleven grandchildren.