Jennifer Sandra Carroll is a Trinidadian-born American politician who was elected as the first woman Lieutenant Governor of the state of Florida in the United States. She was born in Trinidad and Tobago, emigrated to the United States as a kid, and went on to serve her adopted country admirably. She joined the US Navy in 1979 as an enlisted jet mechanic and ascended through the ranks to become a Lieutenant Commander after 20 years of service. Along the way, she earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and went on to earn her MBA. She was appointed to the Commission on Presidential Scholars after retiring from the army and running unsuccessfully for a seat in the United States House of Representatives. In 2003, she ran for a position in the Florida House of Representatives and won a majority of the vote, becoming the 13th district’s representative. She was a state legislator for more than seven years, and in addition to assisting the Governor with economic development, she was also in charge of the ‘Florida Department of Military Affairs’ and the ‘Florida Department of Veterans Affairs.’ She was chosen as the first black woman and the first black person to serve as the Lieutenant Governor of Florida in 2011.
Childhood and Adolescence
Jennifer Carroll was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, on August 27, 1959.
Her family moved to the United States when she was eight years old, and she graduated from Uniondale High School in Uniondale, Long Island, in 1977.
Career of Jennifer Carroll
Jennifer Carroll joined the United States Navy in 1979 and served as an aviation machinist’s mate. In 1985, she was appointed as an Aviation Maintenance Duty Officer after being short-listed for the Enlisted Commissioning Program.
She earned an Associate of Arts degree from Leeward Community College in 1981 and a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of New Mexico four years later.
She moved to Florida in 1986, where she earned her MBA from the now-defunct Kensington University, which was unaccredited at the time.
She left the Navy as a Lieutenant Commander in 1999 and ran for a position in the United States House of Representatives in Florida’s third congressional district the following year, but lost to incumbent Corrine Brown.
She was appointed Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans Affairs after her defeat in the 2000 election, a position she held until July 2002.
She ran for a position in the Florida House of Representatives in the 13th state House district in 2003 when incumbent State Representative Mike Hogan resigned.
She was elected to the Florida Legislature as the first African-American female Republican in an April 2003 special election. In 2004, 2006, and 2008, she ran unopposed.
She worked on the Presidential Scholars Commission from 2001 to 2004, and then on the Veterans’ Disability Benefits Commission from 2004 to 2007.
She was also a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention and served as Chairman of the Republican National Convention Committee on Permanent Organization.
She returned to school in 2008 to get an authorized MBA degree from St. Leo University online.
She was elected as the 18th Lieutenant Governor of the United States state of Florida in 2011, making her the first black American and the first woman to hold the office.
She served as a delegate to the Republican National Convention and as a member of the Republican National Convention Credentials Committee in 2012.
Following a dispute involving money laundering and racketeering in relation to Allied Veterans of the World’s illegal gaming firms, she resigned as Lieutenant Governor in March 2013.
Major Projects of Jennifer Carroll
Jennifer Carroll worked as a legislator to pass significant laws that aided economic development by assisting employers in retaining and creating jobs. She also assisted in the acquisition of significant funds for numerous road improvements, health, education, and social programs, as well as water and environmental projects in northeast Florida.
She worked hard as the Director of Military Affairs to improve military construction funding and expand defense contracting possibilities for Florida firms. She was involved in the defense of Florida’s military sites, which helped to preserve the state’s natural lands and waterways.
She also served as the Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, where she made a significant contribution. During her tenure, Florida veterans received more than $63 million in retroactive benefits.
Achievements & Awards
Jennifer Carroll was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals, two Navy Volunteer Service Medals, and an Expert Pistol Medal during her time in the Navy.
The World Trade Center Miami honored her with the ‘International Women’s Day Award’ in 2013.
‘The Community Arts and Culture’ honored her with the Virtuous Woman Award in 2014.
Personal History and Legacy
Jennifer Carroll is the mother of three children: Nolan II, Nyckie, and Necho. She is married to Nolan Carroll.
Estimated Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Jennifer Carroll is unknown.