Bill McCollum

Bill McCollum is the 36th Attorney General of Florida, elected in November 2006. Since taking office, he has positioned Florida as a national leader in the fight against child pornography and internet child predators. At his request, the Florida Legislature provided the resources to greatly expand the Attorney General’s Child Predator CyberCrime Unit (CPCU) and passed laws giving law enforcement new tools and greater punishments for those who prey on children over the internet. Additionally, with the cooperation of the state’s school superintendents, the Attorney General’s office has prepared a cybersafety program to present in all of Florida’s middle schools and high schools.

As Attorney General, Bill’s other priorities include developing a statewide strategy to address gangs, violent crime and drugs; consumer protection; combating Medicaid fraud; improving the state’s security against terrorist threats, and fighting crimes against the elderly, especially identity theft.

Bill McCollum is a native Floridian, born in Brooksville. He graduated from Hernando High School and earned his bachelor’s degree and law degree from the University of Florida.

After graduating from law school, Bill served on active duty in the U.S. Navy from 1969-1972. In 1992, he retired from the Naval Reserve as a Commander, having served 23 years as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG).

From 1981 to 2001, Bill represented the people of Central Florida in the United States Congress. He founded the U.S. House Task force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare and was recognized as an expert on terrorism. Bill also served on the Judiciary Committee, where he chaired the Subcommittee on Crime, as well as the Intelligence and Banking committees. Upon retiring from the House of Representatives in 2001, he was a partner with Baker and Hostetler, LLP, until he was elected as the Attorney General.

Bill has been married to Ingrid Seebohm McCollum for 36 years. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law and two grandsons.