Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Commissioner Mark Glass will return to his alma mater to deliver the keynote address at Northwest Florida State College’s Spring Commencement on May 9, 2025.
Glass, a 1991 NWFSC graduate and recipient of the college’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018, brings more than three decades of law enforcement and military experience to the podium.
- “Northwest Florida State College is proud to welcome home Commissioner Glass, and we all look forward to hearing his inspiring words to a new generation of Raider alumni,” said NWFSC President Mel Ponder. “Our graduates leave here to make their mark on the world, and it’s so incredible to have an alumnus return and share how NWFSC prepared them for the journey ahead.”
Glass has accumulated 32 years of combined federal and state service across multiple roles, including law enforcement officer, military officer, national intelligence officer, federal civilian supervisor and senior executive.
Before his appointment as FDLE Commissioner, Glass served as director of Florida Capitol Police and director of security for the Florida Lottery. His federal experience includes service on the FBI Joint Terroism Task Force and the U.S. Attorney’s Anti-Terroism Advisory Council.
- Glass also spent 30 years in the United States Armed Forces, serving as both a UH-60 Blackhawk pilot with the U.S. Army and a Jayhawk pilot with the U.S. Coast Guard. His military career included command roles with the Florida Army National Guard, the District of Columbia National Guard and the U.S. Army.
He retired from Fort Rucker, Alabama, known as the home of the Army aviation, with the distinction of master aviator and two meritorious service medals.
Glass holds a Bachelor of Science degree in criminology from Florida State University in addition to his NWFSC degree. He currently serves on the Florida Board of Directors for the American Legion Boys State.
Due to the large graduating class, NWFSC will hold two commencement ceremonies on May 9. The first ceremony begins at 10 a.m., with the second following at 2 p.m. Both will take place at Raider Arena on the Niceville campus, and no tickets are required for attendance.
