Ken Plato
Ken’s family moved to Orange Park in 1964. He earned a BS in Journalism from the University of Florida and worked as a news reporter for the Florida Times-Union before entering the Marine Corps and serving 28 years, retiring as a colonel.
While in the Marine Corps, Ken and his wife, Lorie, raised four children while he (somehow) managed to earn an MA in administration from Central Michigan University and an MS in Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
Following his military career, Ken worked for the State Department at the US Embassy Baghdad in the Tactical Operations Center before retiring from fulltime work. He does consulting work for a federal contractor, focusing on DoD contracts.
When not performing grandpa duties to the 10 wonderful grandchildren his children have blessed him and Lorie with, Ken devotes his time to various volunteer efforts. He has volunteered with the St Vincent de Paul Conference (past president) at St Catherine’s Church for more than a decade, assisting the area poor. He serves as the president of the Riverside District St Vincent de Paul Council, and vice president of the St Augustine Diocesan Council St Vincent de Paul. He is a member of the Orange Park Clothes Closet and Food Pantry Board of Directors and is vice president of his church parish council.
