Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon is stepping away from the state’s prison system after roughly 30 years on the job, capping a career that started in a guard’s uniform and ended in the top seat. Dixon, who has led the department since late 2021, announced his retirement Friday in a social media post from the agency.
The move was first reported by Tampa Bay 28, which noted that the department’s post said Dixon was stepping down after three decades of public service. Dixon was appointed secretary by Governor Ron DeSantis in November 2021, according to a press release from the Executive Office of the Governor.
Career and credentials
Dixon’s official biography with the Florida Department of Corrections details a steady climb through the ranks, starting as a correctional officer and moving into senior management roles before landing in the secretary’s chair. In January 2025 he was sworn in as president of the American Correctional Association, a national leadership role that state press accounts highlighted as part of his tenure.
He led the department through high-pressure moments
As secretary, Dixon presided over a system grappling with staffing shortages and safety concerns that have fueled scrutiny from the public, watchdogs and the press. Reporting and oversight projects into life inside Florida’s state prisons kept the department under a bright spotlight, even as it carried out an active execution schedule and fought legal challenges that pushed Florida’s corrections policies onto the national stage.
What comes next
The department’s social media announcement did not include a timetable for Dixon’s exit or name an interim or permanent successor, Tampa Bay 28 reports. State officials and corrections stakeholders are now waiting on a formal transition plan from the governor’s office and the agency.
Dixon’s departure leaves a major leadership opening at Florida’s largest state agency while lawmakers and correctional leaders continue to debate budgets, staffing and safety reforms. This story will be updated as officials release more details about the timeline and next steps.
