Ronald B. Salem, Pharm. D., is currently the President of Salem & Associates, a company that provides consulting services in the pharmaceutical industry. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1978 and Doctor of Pharmacy in 1980 from the University of Florida.
Dr. Salem has also been active locally, serving as Chairman of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Better Jacksonville Plan under Mayor John Delaney, Chairman of the Greater Arlington Citizens Planning and Advisory Committee (CPAC) for two years, as well as, being appointed to the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Board from 1999-2013 serving as Chairman on four different occasions.
During his tenure on the Jacksonville City Council, Dr. Salem has served on the Finance Committee for four years, once as chair. He has served on the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee, once as Vice Chair and once as Chair and the Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health and Safety Committee once as Vice Chair. Dr. Salem has served the community in several other capacities as well while on City Council. He has served as Chair of the Special Committee on the Opioid Epidemic and the Opioid Abuse Prevention Committee, Special Committee on Social Justice and Community Investment and in a liaison role for the Jacksonville Port Authority, Tree Commission, and Tourist Development Council. He served as Vice President of the City Council for the 2022-2023 year and is President for the 2023-2024 year.
Dr. Salem is married to the former Nancy Hanania and has three children and six grandchildren.
Following the loss of his cousin to a violent crime, T.K.’s career path was solidified as this incident made him realize his passion to serve and protect.
In 1991, T.K. joined the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office as a Correctional Officer. He later graduated from the Police Academy in August 1993.
T.K. has served in numerous capacities within the agency’s major departments of Patrol & Enforcement and Homeland Security & Investigations. He has demonstrated significant leadership with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in the following ways:
As a Chief, T.K. was committed to establishing strong partnerships within the Jacksonville community and the National Network for Safe Communities. With the assistance of several key partners internally, as well as outside the agency, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office was able to expand its approach to addressing violent crime.
In July 2022, T.K. retired from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to run for Sheriff of Duval County.
In November 2022, the citizens of Duval County, Florida elected him to serve as the seventh Sheriff of Duval County since consolidation in 1968. Sheriff Waters was officially sworn in on Sunday, November 20, 2022, by outgoing Sheriff Pat Ivey.
During his administration, Sheriff Waters will be focused on making Jacksonville an even better place to live and raise a family. He plans to increase staffing levels; focus on violent criminals and gangs for prosecution; build trust through robust community outreach and engagement; make efficient and effective use of taxpayer dollars; and leverage new technology.