HOMER RICE - THE NEW ADMINISTRATOR FOR LEON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Homer Rice is no stranger to public health.  He comes to us from Sarasota County Health Department where he was the Director of Environmental Health.  Mr. Rice is currently a Doctoral Candidate at the University of South Florida and earned his Masters of Public Health degree from the University of South Florida, in 1991.  In 1978, he earned his bachelor's degree in biology.  He is also a Registered Sanitarian with the Florida Environmental Health Association and a graduate of the Florida Public Health Leadership Institute and the Center for Public Health Preparedness Crisis Leadership. He also has numerous certifications in various areas such as Food Protection and Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal, FEMA, Incident Command System, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Crisis Communications.  

Rice's professional experience spans over a number of years in public health, including 27 years of environmental health know-how.  He started as a food inspector, and progressed to the position of supervisor in the Venice office of the Sarasota County Health Department.  Rice was later promoted to the position of Assistant Director of Environmental Health, overseeing both the Sarasota and Venice offices.  After the Director of Environmental Health, Mr. Jeff Ragan retired; Mr. Rice was selected to fill this position.  During this time, he was also asked to fill in temporarily as Administrative Services Director for the health department, overseeing fiscal, IT, vital records, facilities and personnel for over 300 staff.  This assignment lasted almost 4 years while Mr. Rice continued to serve as the Environmental Health Director.  In 1998 the Environmental Health and Engineering Divisions were merged and Mr. Rice became the administrator of the combined division.  Over the years, Mr. Rice has developed a great rapport with not only the health department employees but also with other state and county agencies.  He served as the Disaster Coordinator for the health department and for the last 10 years has worked in the Emergency Operations Center every year during the hurricane season. Let's take the time to welcome Mr. Homer Rice to the Leon County Health Department.