Candidate Profile: Sean Conley

US Navy Veteran Sean Conley is seeking the District 4 Manatee County School Board seat in August's election. He faces incumbent Chad Choate, who was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy created when Scott Hopes left the board to become Manatee County Administrator.

Conley is a native Floridian and graduate of Southeast High School in Bradenton Florida, Class of 1987. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 1996.

From age 16 to 23, Conley worked in a variety of food industries jobs as a cook, assistant Manager, and Manager. At age 23 he worked at Thornton Mazda as a parts attendant and later as a mechanic. At 28, he began working as a substitute teacher in the Manatee County School District.

In 1996, Conley enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an Electronics Technician, serving onboard the USS CONSTELLATION. In 1998m he attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as an Officer (Cryptologist/Information Warfare).

While serving, Conley was assigned to a variety of commands, including Naval Security Group Activity (NSGA) Northwest, NSGA Norfolk, USNS STALWART, USS ARLEIGH BURKE, NSGA Norfolk, USS SPRUANCE, COMUSNAVSO/FOURTHFLEET.

Conley twice deployed to the Arabian Gulf (2000 and 2004), and twice more to the USSOUTHCOM area of operations (Caribbean and Pacific counter drug operations). In 2009, Conley left active duty and began serving reserve duty with USSOCOM Detachment 108. In July 2013, as a Lieutenant Commander, he was medically retired from the U.S. Navy Reserves.

After leaving active duty in 2009, Mr. Conley began a career as a Military Contractor and worked at USCENTCOM, USSOUTHCOM, Intelligence Systems Support Office, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff/J32.

In December 2021, Conley retired from Military Contracting as a Subject Matter Expert in ISR Mission Manager, Collections Management, ISR Assessments/Intelligence Analyst, Information Warfare, Information Operations, Security Management, and Information Warfare. Currently, he is a student at SCF Manatee Sarasota and USF Tampa.

Conley is running a self-funded campaign thus far and faces a significant fundraising disadvantage, as his opponent has received considerable support for the real estate development sector.