Dr. Robert Gonzalez has decades of experience in law enforcement, higher education and public safety.
FORT PIERCE, Fla. (September 30, 2026) — ¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ River State College has named Dr. Robert Gonzalez as associate dean of Public Service Education.
Gonzalez led some of the nation’s largest public safety agencies and taught at St. John’s University.Â
“This opportunity was a culmination of my life’s work in public safety, education and training,” he said. “Over the past 30 years, I held positions as a police officer and as an academic — now I get to combine those experiences into one role at ¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ River State College.”
Gonzalez most recently served as deputy commissioner of training and development at the New York City Department of Correction. He also held leadership positions at the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the New York City Police Department.
Gonzalez worked an assistant professor at St. John’s University, where he taught homeland security, global terrorism, public administration and police leadership.
He earned a doctorate in educational leadership from St. John’s University, as well as graduate and undergraduate degrees from the New York Institute of Technology.
Gonzalez will oversee academic programs and training courses that prepare students for careers in criminal justice, fire science, emergency medical services and public service leadership. His first day was Sept. 21.
¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ ¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ River State College
¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ River State College, serving Florida’s Martin, St. Lucie, ¶¶ÒõÆƽâ°æ River, and Okeechobee counties, offers high-quality, affordable education to over 24,000 students annually through traditional and online courses. The College provides more than 130 programs leading to bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, and technical certificates. To learn more, visit .
