Dennis
Ross

Dennis A. Ross is a former member of the United States House of Representatives and the Florida House of Representatives, with a distinguished record of public service at both the state and federal levels. He currently serves as director of the American Center for Public Leadership at Southeastern University, where he is also a Distinguished Professor of Political Science, focusing on civic engagement, civil discourse, and leadership development.

Over the course of his career, Dennis has developed deep expertise in public policy, legislative strategy, and governmental oversight. Elected to Congress in 2010, he represented Florida’s 15th Congressional District for four terms. During his tenure, he served on several key committees, including the House Financial Services Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. He also served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce and United States Postal Service, where he led oversight efforts and advanced reforms to improve government efficiency and accountability.

Prior to his service in Congress, Dennis served eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, where he chaired the House Insurance Committee. In that role, he played a leading part in shaping Florida’s legislative response to the unprecedented 2004 hurricane season, helping to stabilize insurance markets and support recovery efforts for impacted communities.

In addition to his legislative experience, Dennis brings a strong legal and private-sector background. He is a member of both the Florida Bar and the District of Columbia Bar, and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, reflecting the highest standards of professional excellence and ethics. He began his legal career with Holland & Knight and later served as in-house counsel for Walt Disney World before founding and growing a successful law firm.

Dennis has also been actively engaged in international and intergovernmental relations. While in Congress, he served as Co-Chair of the Hungarian-American Congressional Caucus and led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Hungary in 2016, strengthening diplomatic and cultural ties. In recognition of his efforts to advance U.S.–Hungarian relations, he was awarded the Hungarian Order of Merit, Knight’s Cross.

Since leaving Congress, Dennis has remained committed to public leadership and civic renewal. Through his work at the American Center for Public Leadership, he has helped develop research-based programming to promote civil discourse, strengthen democratic institutions, and prepare the next generation of public servants. He is also the author of Reaching Across the Aisle, a reflection on bipartisan leadership and governance.