Gary built a career in public service that spanned two demanding fields — military leadership and public interest law — rising to the top ranks in each. Now retired, he capped his legal career as Director of Professional Development for the Office of the Public Defender, Fourth Judicial Circuit, where he led attorney training and continuing education while also representing clients at trial.
Gary began his legal career in 1992 as an Assistant Public Defender in Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit (West Palm Beach), where he served as Division Chief in misdemeanor and felony courts and as Director of First Appearances and Arraignments at the Palm Beach County judicial complex. In 1998, he established Florida’s first problem-solving court, then known as Community Court. He joined the 15th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office in 2001, supervising attorneys across County, Circuit, Juvenile, Extradition, Domestic Violence, and Intake divisions, and at times served as acting State Attorney during emergencies — once for seven consecutive days following major hurricane damage in the community. He completed more than 120 jury trials, including capital cases, before retiring from the State Attorney’s Office in 2010.
Alongside his legal work, Mr. Beard served 20 years of active duty and 17 in the Army Reserve, rising from private to sergeant and ultimately to Major General (two stars). His military career took him around the world in war and peacetime, including two tours in Iraq: first with the 1st Marine Division and 82nd Airborne Division in 2003-04, then as Deputy Commander, Multi-National Corps-Iraq, in 2009-10. He commanded units ranging from 250 to 130,000 personnel and supported Joint Special Operations missions focused on regional stability, disaster relief, foreign internal defense, and rule of law. He also served on the Army Staff, advising the Secretary of the Army on Reserve and National Guard issues.
His military and civilian honors include the Distinguished Service Medal, three Bronze Stars, three Legions of Merit, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Navy Presidential Unit Citation, the Combat Action Badge, the U.S. Army Parachutist Badge, the U.S. Army Air Assault Badge, and Egyptian and German parachutist badges. He is a recognized Accomplished Alumnus of the University of Tennessee.
Before joining the Fourth Judicial Circuit Office of the Public Defender in 2015, Mr. Beard consulted for the Department of Defense in Hawaii and Fort Bragg, NC, supporting Special Operations units on unconventional warfare and international rule-of-law issues, including managing classified evidence. He is now retired and lives with his wife, Elaine, to whom he has been married for 45 years. They have two sons who, with their families, reside in Jacksonville.
