Byron Brooks

Chair

Byron Brooks was elected to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents in November 2020, representing District 3. He currently serves as Chair of the Board and is in his second term in that role, having previously led the Board from January 2023 through December 2023. His tenure has been marked by a focus on accountability, strategic governance, and ensuring Nevada’s higher education system meets the evolving needs of students, faculty, and the state’s workforce.

A Las Vegas native, Regent Brooks is a U.S. Army combat veteran whose career reflects a lifelong commitment to service and leadership. Following his military service, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Literature and Writing Studies from California State University San Marcos. He began his professional career as an entrepreneur before serving the nation as a security contractor for the Department of Defense and later supporting U.S. Department of State operations in high-threat environments overseas. His experience includes logistical management, workforce training, and operational oversight for multimillion-dollar government projects in complex, austere, and conflict-zone settings – skills that translate directly to effective public-sector governance and fiscal stewardship.

Regent Brooks has an extensive record of civic and community engagement. He has mentored veterans through the Veterans Treatment Court Program, served as a trustee for Congregation Ner Tamid, and volunteered as an instructor with the Nevada Coalition for Suicide Prevention. He is the founder of the Nevada Veterans Alliance and previously served for three years on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s Use of Force Board. Across these roles, he has consistently advocated for mental health resources, veteran support, public safety, and community well-being.

Education leadership is also a cornerstone of the Brooks family’s public service. Regent Brooks served three elected terms on the Twitchell Elementary School Organizational Team, while his wife, Heather Brooks, served one term as Vice President of the school’s Parent Teacher Association and two terms as PTA President. Together, they have demonstrated a strong commitment to strengthening educational outcomes and parental engagement at the local level.

Regent Brooks has received multiple awards and recognitions for his work as an entrepreneur and community advocate. He currently serves on several boards for veteran-focused nonprofit organizations in Nevada and continues to support small business development and workforce growth. He is also a graduate student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he is pursuing a master’s degree in public policy, further reinforcing his commitment to informed, effective public leadership.

He and Heather are the proud parents of their son, Blake, and remain deeply invested in the future of Nevada’s communities and its education system.