Nick Bricker

The Utah Department of Corrections appointed Nicholas "Nick" Bricker to serve as the chief of the Division of Prison Operations in January 2026.

Bricker began his career with the Utah Department of Corrections in 2006 as a Correctional Officer assigned to Promontory at the former Draper facility. He later transferred to the Transportation Unit before transitioning in 2009 to the Utah Highway Patrol. As a Trooper, he became a senior operator with the Joint Special Operations Group, earning certifications in Hostage Rescue Tactics and explosive breaching. Thanks to his time at UDC, he excelled at drug interdiction and gang enforcement.

Promoted to Sergeant, he held several leadership roles within UHP before achieving the rank of Lieutenant. During the 2020 riots, he served as the graveyard watch commander at the Utah State Capitol.

In late 2021, Bricker transferred to UHP Headquarters, where he oversaw multi-million dollar grants and budgetary responsibilities. He also served as UHP’s Accreditation Manager, leading the agency to its first successful accreditation. In 2022, he was elected Vice Chair of the Planning and Policy Section of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, representing peers from 49 state police agencies. He became Chair of the section in 2024 and recently led a national best practices working group on vehicle pursuits, which was published by the IACP in 2025. He was appointed Assistant Chief of DPO in August 2025.

In addition to his law enforcement career, he serves as a Military Intelligence Officer in the Utah National Guard.

Bricker holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an MBA from Western Governors University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Staff and Command School and IACP’s Leadership in Policing Organizations.

Outside of his professional life, Bricker is a proud husband and father of four boys. He enjoys coaching and watching his sons play sports, as well as spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, hunting, and backpacking.