Three New Members Join the Florida Board

Three new members were appointed to the Florida Board of Professional Engineers by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Dec. 14, 2022, along with the re-appointment of a current member.

Joining the Board are public members Christopher Dawson and James Gonzalez, and Sam E. Mousa, PE, who will assume the electrical engineering seat. Mr. Dawson and Mr. Mousa were appointed through Oct. 31, 2026, while Mr. Gonzalez was appointed through Oct. 31, 2023.

Yassi Myers, PE, was reappointed to the Board through Oct. 31, 2026.

Mr. Dawson is an attorney and professional lobbyist in Gray Robinson’s Orlando office and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Alabama. He primarily focuses on lobbying and government relations for public and private sector clients at the executive and legislative levels of state government, as well as counties, cities, airport authorities, transportation authorities, port authorities, school districts, and water management districts. Mr. Dawson also holds two degrees in civil engineering and has experience in construction litigation and design professional malpractice defense.

Mr. Dawson is a sixth-generation Floridian. He was born in Pensacola and raised in nearby Santa Rosa County, where his family still operates a farm today. He received his undergraduate degree in civil engineering from the University of Florida.

In 2013, he graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alabama School of Law. He pursued a joint degree at UA, also obtaining his master’s degree in civil engineering with a focus on construction methods and management.

In spring 2012, he served as a legal intern in the D.C. office of Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart. Additionally, he was a summer associate in the Legal Services Bureau of the Alabama Department of Transportation. Mr. Dawson also worked as a graduate assistant in the University of Alabama College of Engineering.

Currently, Mr. Dawson maintains an active role in his community with organizations such as Leadership Florida and the Greater Apopka Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was recently appointed to a four-year term on the Board of Directors for the University of Alabama’s Capstone Engineering Society.

Mr. Gonzalez is a co-founder of Cobb & Gonzalez, P.A., and has provided guidance to businesses and professionals for over a decade. Mr. Gonzalez graduated from the University of South Florida, in Tampa, and was a member of the Business National Honor Society. He earned his juris doctor from Villanova University School of Law in 2007. That same year, James also received a Master of Business Administration degree from the Villanova University School of Business

Mr. Gonzalez has represented numerous architectural, engineering, and construction firms, as well as their employees, in professional negligence, construction defect, and contractual claims. He has also provided legal counseling and representation to general contractors, subcontractors, building material manufacturers, and suppliers in areas from corporate formation to contract disputes and construction defect claims. Currently, he provides legal counseling and representation to design professionals, general contractors, subcontractors, building material manufacturers, and suppliers in areas ranging from corporate formation to contract disputes and construction defect claims and everything in between.

In 2015, Mr. Gonzalez was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). As an assistant staff judge advocate, Capt. Gonzalez assists the staff judge advocate in providing legal advice to the wing commander (installation commander), as well as its subordinate units, including supporting the provision of military justice to thousands of airmen and reviewing and providing guidance on multi-million-dollar construction contracts.

Mr. Gonzalez moved to Jacksonville in 2009. He and his wife have two children. In his free time, Mr. Gonzalez enjoys building Jeeps, inshore fishing, woodworking, cooking, golfing, and spending time with his family.

Mr. Mousa has over 46 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. He has 23 years of experience in the private sector, working in civil engineering consulting and heavy civil construction. He also has 20 years of experience in the public sector, serving in the mayoral-appointed positions of city engineer, director of public works, deputy chief administrative officer, and chief administrative officer for the City of Jacksonville. Mr. Mousa served the City of Jacksonville during five mayoral administrations.

He is president of Mousa Consulting Group Inc., established in 2019, providing various consulting services to the transportation and land development industry, as well as working with engineers and contractors on various infrastructure development projects.

Mr. Mousa holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Florida, is a life member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and is a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He has also studied public administration and governmental policy.

He and his wife, Sandra, live in Jacksonville and have three children and six grandchildren.