Thomas Ruppert, Coastal Planning Specialist at the Florida Sea Grant College Program, is an attorney focused on legal aspects of adaptive planning for sea-level rise, community resilience, and associated long-term challenges and opportunities for Florida’s coastal communities. Areas of expertise include federal and state property rights law, beach and coastal policy in Florida, flood insurance, Florida’s Coastal Construction Control Line, planning law, and coastal and marine permitting programs. He has worked with over a dozen partners to organize and host legal workshops on coastal issues and flood insurance around the state. Mr. Ruppert is a frequent speaker on sea-level and law. He is currently involved with several initiatives within Florida communities planning for sea-level rise. In addition to his own research, writing, and projects, Mr. Ruppert also connects people, ideas, and resources in pursuit of coastal resilience.