| Patt Maney resides in Shalimar, Florida, and works as an attorney. He is married to Caroline and has deep roots in public service, following in the footsteps of his father, Charles Thomas Maney, who served as a Fort Walton Beach City Councilman. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Kentucky (1966-1970), a Juris Doctor from the University of Louisville's Louis D. Brandeis School of Law (1971-1974), and a Master of Science in International Relations from Troy State University (1994-1995). In 2016, he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Kentucky.
Maney served in the United States Army, both on active and reserve duty, from 1970 to 2007, retiring as a Brigadier General. His military career included overseas service in Panama, Haiti, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the University of Kentucky Army ROTC Wall of Honor in 2012 and was awarded the Afghan Ghazi Mir Batcha Kahn Superior Medal in 2005. He moved to Florida in 1975 and is a member of the Anglican faith. In his free time, he enjoys gardening, history, and engaging in public and international affairs.
Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2020 and subsequently re-elected, Maney has also had an extensive career in public service. He served as an Okaloosa County Judge from 1989 to 2018, demonstrating his longstanding commitment to the legal system. Beyond the judiciary, he has held leadership positions such as Chairman of the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame, member of the Southern Regional Education Board, and Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. He has also contributed to numerous committees, including the Florida Supreme Court Steering Committee for Problem Solving Courts (2018-2020), the Mid-Bay Bridge Authority (2018-2020), and the Okaloosa-Walton Transportation Planning Organization (2019-2020).
Maney has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors for his service to veterans, the legal community, and public affairs. His accolades include the Daughters of the American Revolution Medal of Honor (2019), the Disabled American Veterans Outstanding Disabled Veteran of the Year Award (2019), and the Florida Veterans Hall of Fame induction (2018). He was also honored with the Governor's Medal of Merit (2017) and the Brain Injury Association's Valiant Heart Award (2015). In recognition of his contributions to veterans' mental health, the Okaloosa Veterans Treatment Court was named the "T. Patt Maney Veterans Treatment Court" in 2018, and Florida legislation was titled the "T. Patt Maney Veterans Treatment Intervention Act" in 2015.
His influence extends beyond Florida, with national and international recognition. He received the United States Department of State Meritorious Honor Award (2005) and was granted a private audience with Pope John Paul II in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina, in 1997. He was also honored with the Military Order of the Purple Heart's Patriot of the Year Award (2010) and the Secretary of Defense Outstanding Public Service Award (2006). A lifelong leader, he was named an Eagle Scout in 1965, marking the beginning of his dedication to service. |