DeSantis names former Crist, Scott advisor Shane Strum as chief of staff

Florida Governor-elect Ron DeSantis named a former advisor to Gov. Charlie Crist as his chief of staff today.

Shane Strum, a senior vice president for Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood, will assume one of the most important jobs in the DeSantis governorship.

It's a spot that Strum is familiar with: He was chief of staff to Crist between 2009 and 2011, and he was a transition advisor to Gov. Rick Scott for two months after Scott was elected.

"I am very pleased to announce that Shane is returning to public service and bringing his expertise to our administration," DeSantis said in a statement. "Having spent many years in both the private and public sector, and previously serving two Florida Governors, Shane will be a great addition to our team."

Strum is a former chairman of the Broward Republican Party, and he worked for years in state government as well.

Under the Crist administration, he championed strategic transportation and infrastructure planning and higher education reform.

And before that, he served as the Deputy Secretary for Business Operations in the Florida Department of Management Services, overseeing a 450-person team.

Strum will take the job on Jan. 8, when DeSantis takes office.

DeSantis was also considering for the job lobbyists Kathy Mears and Scott Ross and his own chief of staff in Congress, Scott Parkinson, who is also deputy executive director of DeSantis' transition team.