Dane Eagle, new executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, and his family — wife Brooke, infant son Ronin, and golden retriever Hampton — are happy to have taken the next step in their life journey together. PROVIDED

Cape native Dane Eagle was appointed executive director of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity by Ron DeSantis earlier this month and he says he looks forward to the next chapter of his career.

“The governor asked me to take on a pretty significant challenge,” Eagle said. “DEO, while it does many wonderful things… demand on the system and on the people here has been unprecedented. We’ve got work to do but I’m excited for the challenge.”

DeSantis praised Eagle’s character and is confident he can work to steady the ship in the rough economic seas of COVID-19.

“Leader Eagle is an experienced legislator, a family man, and the right choice to lead DEO,” DeSantis said in a statement announcing the appointment. “The Department has suffered some setbacks, but I have no doubt that Dane is up to the task. He is personable, enjoys broad bipartisan support, and I look forward to the many successes to come. Casey and I also congratulate Dane and his wife Brooke on the birth of their first child.”

As a two-term state representative and House Majority Leader that helped form the state’s budget, Eagle is confident his experience and relationships made along the way will put him on a path of success.

“I think (my experience will be) very helpful and I think that’s what the governor saw as well,” Eagle said. “I’ve worked closely with the agency these last eight years as a legislator and actually previously as the deputy chief of staff to the governor. I’ve got preexisting knowledge but there’s obviously a lot of new information to take in.”

Eagle said these past few weeks have mostly involved staffing and getting to know his new colleagues, understanding their needs and making resources available to them.

Eagle said getting Floridians back to work while dealing with the economic hardship COVID-19 has created is the top priority. In the meantime, providing assistance those who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus layoffs or business closures is the task at hand.

Eagle said EDO’s Reemployment Assistance program is working through all-time-high claims and volume. The office is working to fix bugs with the “connect” system that Eagle said is “not up to the task of the amount of claimants that have come through” and is the No. 1 issue facing the department currently.

Eagle said the best thing the state can do for its economy is to continue to attract businesses and job creators. With more jobs coming into the state, less pressure will be put on the reemployment system.

“Our department, while we will make sure those individuals coming through seeking help will get it, will also be working very closely with our partners at CareerSource to make sure that individuals who come through their doors in local communities can find gainful employment — connecting them with job creators who are out there and have openings.”

Working on rebuilding the trust that funds the reemployment program is on Eagle’s list of accomplishments.

Eagle said the EDO would also work with the legislature to cut taxes and regulations to bring in business and see those already in existence flourish.

“We always want to be fiscally responsible and make sure we’re not spending out of our means,” Eagle said. “We’ve got a balanced budget here in the state of Florida. We want to continue to have a strong economy.”

While this means a move to Tallahassee for Eagle, his wife Brooke and son Ronin, he said he will always have roots in Southwest Florida and will continue to visit his family in the area.

“While it’s bittersweet to move up here for the next few years while we serve Gov. DeSantis and his administration, I’m not saying goodbye to Southwest Florida,” Eagle said. “Southwest Florida will always be home and I’ll be here to get my therapy in on the water and to see my family.”

Eagle, who represented State House District 77 that includes Cape Coral, lost his bid to replace Congressman Francis Rooney in the U.S. House when he came in second in a nine-way Republican primary for Rooney’s District 19 seat.

Born and raised in Southwest Florida, Eagle graduated with honors from Bishop Verot High School where he served as class president and played football. He attended Florida Gulf Coast University before graduating from the University of Florida, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics.

In their spare time Eagle and Brooke “enjoy time on the water, traveling, and appreciating the treasures of the Sunshine State.”

— Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad_cj