Office of the Secretary

Ricky D. Dixon, Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections

Ricky D. Dixon was appointed the Secretary of Corrections in November 2021. The Florida Department of Corrections is the third largest state prison system in the country with a budget of $2.9 billion, approximately 80,000 inmates and 146,000 offenders on community supervision. As Florida’s largest state agency, FDC employs 23,000 staff.

Dixon previously served as Deputy Secretary responsible for the overall operation of the agency, working collaboratively with each program area to ensure the mission and vision of the Department are accomplished. Dixon oversaw the largest evacuation of inmates in the U.S. during Hurricane Irma, establishing Florida as a national leader in hurricane response.

Previously serving as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Institutions for four years, Dixon was responsible for the administration and management of FDC’s 50 major correctional institutions and their associated facilities. Facility missions range from death row and other high custody units to female units, work camps, community and work release centers, road prisons and residential treatment facilities.

Dixon began his career as a Correctional Officer at Lancaster Correctional Institution in 1996. He promoted through the security ranks and was appointed Correctional Officer Colonel of Florida State Prison. Following this appointment, he gained experience as an Assistant Warden at Martin and Okeechobee Correctional Institutions and was later promoted to Warden, a position he held at three state correctional institutions. He was then promoted to Regional Director of Institutions overseeing approximately one third of Florida’s prisons.

Over the course of his career, Dixon has been certified as an instructor in every major facet of correctional training including firearms, defensive tactics, ethics, field training and hostage negotiation. He was asked to assist with the development of the American Correctional Association’s Correctional Behavior Health Certification exam, which is used nationally to certify correctional mental health professionals. His experience also includes time as an auditor, ensuring all institutions meet or exceed operational review standards.

He has been recognized nationally as a correctional subject matter expert and served on numerous panels including the American Correctional Association, and the National Institute of Corrections.

He holds membership and affiliations with the American Correctional Association, National Institute of Corrections, Correctional Leaders of America, Florida Sheriff’s Association, Florida Police Chiefs, Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency, Correctional Officer’s Foundation and the Correctional Peace Officers Foundation.

Dixon is a Certified Corrections Executive with American Correctional Association and has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida Gulf Coast University. He is a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Executive Seminar.