Cliff Stearns is an Executive Director based in APCO Worldwide’s Washington, D.C., office and serves as a member of APCO’s International Advisory Council. He is a former Member of Congress for Florida’s 6th district, where he gained extensive experience in telecommunications, technology, cybersecurity and international trade during his 24 years of service. While in Congress, he had over 650 town hall meetings.
While in Congress, his various pieces of legislation were signed by four presidents including the "Do Not Call List" to prevent nuisance phone calls, the Millennium Healthcare for Veterans, the placing of defibrillators in public sectors and the return to the State of Florida eight-eight thousand acres of federal land for Florida land protection, to name just a few of his legislative accomplishments
Congressman Stearns was also a business owner of motels and restaurants before being elected to Congress. He is a graduated of the George Washington University with a degree in electrical engineering. He was a Captain in the United States Air Force and served four years as an aerospace project engineer providing satellite reconnaissance of Vietnam. He was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for distinguished service and meritorious achievement and later as a Congressman received the Air Force Association W. Stuart Symington Award, the highest honor presented to a civilian in the field of national security.
Mr. Stearns lives in Ocala, Florida with his wife Joan and they have three grown sons.
