J. Randall "Randy" Stapleford
Commissioner
Flagler County






J. Randall Stapleford, Captain USN (Ret)

Captain “Randy” Stapleford retired from the U.S. Navy after having served over 31 years of active duty.  As a Naval Aviator he accumulated 13 years of sea duty, flown over 7000 hours of operational flight hours, and has made over 725 aircraft carrier arrested landings.  During his navy career he commanded an aviation squadron, served as the SIOP Nuclear Advisor to the Commander and Chief, assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as the Naval Attaché and Attaché for Air to the US Embassy in Ottawa, and selected as the Director of the Naval War College international graduate program – the Naval Staff College, Newport Rhode Island. Afterwards he served as Commanding Officer and Professor of Naval Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh PA.  

After retiring from the US Navy he was called to work for the United States Department of State, and served as the Iraq Country Coordinator for Antiterrorism Assistance under the direction of Secretary Colin Powell and later Secretary Condalisa Rice.  He assumed the additional duties as Country Coordinator for the Republic of the Philippines. He is credited for working closely with the President of the Philippines in establishing the first ever in-country National-level Antiterrorism Task Force. 

Upon departing from the US Department of State Randy has served as Military and Veteran Affairs aide for 3 US Congressmen – Congressman Jason Altmire, Congressman Ron DeSantis, and  currently Congressman Michael Waltz, FL06. 

Randy is a graduate of Widener University; he holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies, and a Master of Science degree in Business Management. He is also a graduate of the Foreign Service Institute French Language and Area Studies Program. His leadership style has been written about in several books and he is profiled in the “Images of America” series – “The Naval War College.”  

Randy is a member of US Navy League and several other Military service organizations.  He is also a member of the New York Yacht Club. He and his wife Rhonda have 2 daughters, Heather and Allison. 

“Sea Stories” are always available upon asking.