About our Health Officer

Antonio Nichols

Antonio Nichols began his current role as the Health Officer for the Florida Department of Health in Duval County in April, 2022. A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Mr. Nichols' public health career began in 1998 at the age of 18 with the agency’s Environmental Health Division. He worked in various roles for many years until he was promoted to the division’s Administrative Services Manager overseeing all operational functions for Environmental Health.

In 2014, Mr. Nichols transitioned to the administrative side of the department becoming the agency’s Finance and Accounting Director and Chief Financial Officer. Finally in 2016, Antonio transitioned into the role as Assistant County Health Department Director for Administration and Operations. Providing leadership to the agency’s numerous administrative functions including Finance and Accounting, Vital Statistics, Clinical Operations, General Services, Information Technology, Emergency Preparedness, Human Resources, and the Office of Performance Improvement. Antonio has over 20 years of public health experience. Over the course of his career, he has gained knowledge and skills in fiscal administration rule and policy implementation. When asked, Mr. Nichols believes firmly in the ideas of servant leadership and its four pillars which are encouraging diversity of thought, creating a culture of trust, having an unselfish mindset, and fostering leadership in others.

Mr. Nichols holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration.