Candidate: Brad Embry

Hello! My name is Brad Embry, Republican candidate for Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller. My wife and I have been married for over 25 years and raised our 3 children in the Niceville area. We are blessed to live and work in such a great community.   

I have spent the last 25 years in public service.  The first 17 years of my career were spent working in various capacities of law enforcement and investigations for the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Major Crimes Division.

In 2015, I joined the Okaloosa County Clerk of Court and Comptroller’s Office as a part of the newly established Office of Inspector General. I was tasked with establishing investigative policies and procedures, implementing industry best practices for investigations, and seeking accreditation by the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). In 2018, I was promoted to the position of Inspector General.  During this time, I conducted and managed audits related to effectiveness of policies, processes, and internal controls as well as investigations related to the potential fraud, waste, or abuse of public resources. I successfully led the IG’s office to accreditation status through the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation in 2017, 2020, and again in 2023.

I currently serve as the Chief of Staff for the Okaloosa County Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office. In this role, I work with our staff and various stakeholders to find innovative ways to make the office accessible and transparent. I help ensure we are fulfilling all the constitutional and statutory responsibilities required of the office. I’m also tasked working with our various partners in the advancement and implementation of technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of government operations. 

I have a master’s degree from the University of West Florida in Administration with specialization in Acquisitions and Contracts Management. I earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University and an associate degree from Northwest Florida State College.  I have earned five professional certifications during my tenure with the Clerk’s Office: Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified Economic Crime Forensic Examiner, Certified Inspector General, Certified Inspector General Investigator, and Certified Inspector General Auditor.