President Donald Trump has long since made his mark on the Republican Party of Florida. But today, with the help of long-time friend and backer Joe Gruters, he sealed the deal heading into the 2020 election cycle.
Gruters, the current RPOF Chairman, announced that Peter O’Rourke, former Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, has been named the Executive Director of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF). In that position, O’Rourke will run the day-to-day operations of the party. A U.S. Navy and Airforce veteran with more than 25 years of experience in the private and public sectors, O’Rourke will work with Chairman Gruters and the state’s Republican Executive Committees in an effort to secure victory for President Donald J. Trump and keep Florida red in 2020.
Newly installed RPOF Executive Director Peter O’Rourke
“Peter O’Rourke brings significant political and managerial experience to the RPOF,” said Gruters. “President Donald Trump fully endorses Peter assuming leadership over the RPOF, as does Governor DeSantis. The RPOF will work hard to register new voters and mobilize the Republican faithful so we can deliver Florida for President Trump and win key legislative races in 2020.”
O’Rourke graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and from the United States Air Force’s Institute of Technology with a Masters of Science in Logistics & Supply Chain Management. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. O’Rourke is a veteran having honorably served in two services in uniform as a U.S. Navy enlisted Airman, Air Force Officer and Logistician and Army senior civilian.
O’Rourke has served in senior executive roles in both the public and private sectors with over 25 years of transformation, operations, marketing and leadership experience. Peter brings a highly diverse set of skills in building high performance teams and innovating in demanding environments. Peter was appointed by President Trump as Acting Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2018. O’Rourke held leadership roles in management consulting, private equity, aerospace and operations companies with experience in sales, marketing, operations, finance and performance improvement.
In the 2012 Presidential election cycle, O’Rourke led Strong America Now, a non-profit advocacy group, that focused on bringing efficiency and innovative solutions to federal and state governments.
Governor Ron DeSantis expressed his confidence in the new executive director by a statement in the RPOF press release announcing the move.
“President Trump holds Peter O’Rourke in high regard and I am impressed with his experience and ability,” DeSantis said. “I look forward to working with Peter at the RPOF to help the President carry Florida and to win key House and Senate races. The President personally endorsed Peter and I believe we will have a united front going into 2020.”
RPOF Chairman Joe Gruters said, “Peter O’Rourke brings significant political and managerial experience to the RPOF. President Donald Trump fully endorses Peter assuming leadership over the RPOF, as does Governor DeSantis. The RPOF will work hard to register new voters and mobilize the Republican faithful so we can deliver Florida for President Trump and win key legislative races in 2020.”