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Charles H. “Charlie” Bronson became the 10^th Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services on May 14, 2001 after being appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to fill a vacancy in the office.  Commissioner Bronson was elected to a full four year term on November 5, 2002 with over 57% of the vote to become the first Republican elected to the office of Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Managing the largest state Department of Agriculture in the country with more than 3,700 employees, Bronson’s priorities include overseeing the state's vast agriculture industry and helping to promote its products, safeguarding the state's food supply, protecting consumers from unfair and deceptive trade practices, controlling plant and animal disease, and managing nearly one million acres of state forests. 

In addition to leading Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Bronson serves on the Florida Cabinet - a body that includes Florida's three statewide elected officials, as well as the Governor, and oversees state land-buying programs, clemency issues and directs the operations of several state agencies.  Bronson recently completed his term as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture. 
 

Governor Bush announces Charlie Bronson as Florida Agriculture Commissioner in 2001

Born into a ranching family in Kissimmee in 1949, Bronson is a 5^th generation Floridian  and comes from a family that traces its long agricultural roots to 1635 as each generation of the family has been in farming since that date. The Commissioner attended Osceola County public schools and earned his A.S. in Agricultural Sciences from the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in 1970, and his B.S.A. in both Animal Science and Agricultural Education from the University of Georgia in 1973. 

Before becoming Florida's Agriculture Commissioner, Bronson served as a sworn law enforcement officer in Dade and Brevard County and, all the while, stayed actively involved in the family’s cattle business.  From 1994 to 2001 he was a Florida State Senator, serving as Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee (1998 to 2001), as well as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee (1996 to 1998), among other committee assignments.

He has received numerous awards, including the Brevard County Farm Bureau “Distinguished Farm Service Award” in 2000, the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida Legislative Conservation Award in 1999, as well as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Legislative Appreciation Award in 1999 and both Florida Sheriff's and Florida Police Chief Association's Legislative Awards.  He has also been an agri-business owner and operator in Florida since 1973.

Bronson’s responsibilities are wide and diverse. And he will be the first to tell you that three key people, his wife, Regina, and daughters, Michelle and Melanie keep everything in perspective.