Board of Trustees names Ochs Interim President of The College of the Florida Keys
Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff will take helm October 19
KEY WEST, FL, October 15, 2026— The District Board of Trustees of The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) named Jared Ochs the College’s Interim President at a special board meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Ochs currently serves as the Deputy Chief of Staff in the Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis. He will assume the College’s top administrative leadership position on Monday, October 19.
“On behalf of the District Board of Trustees, I am pleased to welcome Jared Ochs to The College of the Florida Keys. His extensive experience in state government, public policy, and higher education will be valuable as the College continues to advance its mission and serve the needs of the Florida Keys. The Board is grateful to Dr. Brittany Snyder for her leadership during this transition,” said Alexandria Suarez, Chair of CFK’s Board of Trustees.
Ochs has held senior leadership roles in Florida state government, both in the Governor's Office and at various agencies. Before joining the Governor's Executive Office, Ochs served as Chief of Staff at the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the Secretary at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
He also held several key roles at the Florida Department of Education, the agency that oversees Florida's public K-12 schools and 28 state colleges, including CFK. He served as Director of Communications and External Affairs, as Assistant Deputy Chancellor of Public Schools, and as Director of Legislative Affairs in the Office of the Commissioner.
“I am humbled and honored by the board’s decision to entrust me to lead the College in its next chapter,” said Ochs. “I look forward to working with the faculty, staff, and students to
Ochs holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Florida, a master's degree in political science from the University at Buffalo, and a bachelor's degree in history and political science from the State University of New York at Fredonia.
Dr. Brittany Snyder will continue to lead the institution until Ochs’ arrival.
###
About The College of the Florida Keys
Founded in 1965 as Monroe Junior College, The College of the Florida Keys (CFK) has served the Florida Keys community for 60 years, providing accessible, high-quality education from Ocean Reef to Key West. CFK has expanded to offer a broad range of bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and certificates across several academic and workforce programs as well as high school opportunities and community enrichment courses and programs. For more information about CFK and its mission, visit: https://www.cfk.edu/discover/mission-vision-values/