Honorable Clifford B Stearns

Cliff Stearns is an Executive Director based in APCO Worldwide's Washington, DC, office and serves as a member of APCO's International Advisory Council. Recently he was elected President of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC). 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 twenty-four years of service. Congressman Stearns was...See more

Cliff Stearns is an Executive Director based in APCO Worldwide's Washington, DC, office and serves as a member of APCO's International Advisory Council. Recently he was elected President of the United States Association of Former Members of Congress (USAFMC). 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 twenty-four years of service. Congressman Stearns was also a business owner of motels and restaurants before being elected to Congress. As chair of the Energy & Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, he helped increase transparency in the federal government and led the Solyndra investigation. Congressman Stearns served as the Republican leader on the Communications, Technology and Internet Subcommittee and was chairman of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, where he enacted consumer privacy and data security legislation. 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. He and Joan have three grown sons. See less