Deputy Secretary Robert Woody


Biography

Image of Dep. Secretary Woody

Robert L. Woody brings nearly 30 years of distinguished leadership in social services and public safety to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ).

He was born in Gainesville, Florida, and spent his formative years in Geneva, New York. He graduated from the State University of New York at Oneonta with an undergraduate degree in Sociology and Black/Hispanic Studies. He returned to Gainesville in 1976, where he worked for the Alachua County Board of Public Instruction. In 1979, he received a master's degree in Criminal Justice from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida.

Prior to this appointment as deputy secretary of DJJ in May 2011, he served as director of the Alachua County Jail, an agency of the Sheriff's Office.

Mr. Woody has served on the Judicial Nominating Commission, as an elector for the 2000 presidential election and on the Santa Fe Community College Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the SunBank Board of Trustees, Alachua County Volunteer Center, Alachua County Corner Drug Store, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Council for Economic Outreach and the Gainesville Community Foundation.

Mr. Woody has received numerous awards for community and professional leadership, including the Florida Community College Trustee Board of the Year Award/Santa Fe Community College, Law Enforcement Special Recognition Award and the State of Florida Correctional Probation Officer of the Year Award. In 1994, he received the Florida Community College Trustee of the Year Award as well as the Chamber of Commerce, Appreciation of Service Award and the Gainesville Sun Civic Leader Person of the Year Award. He is also the recipient of E.T. York, Jr. Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his outstanding service to the community.