Joseph Michael Lombardo (born November 8, 1962) is an American politician and former law enforcement officer who has served as the 31st governor of Nevada since January 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he was the 17th sheriff of Clark County from 2015 to 2023. Born in Japan, Lombardo moved to Las Vegas in 1976 and holds degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He served in the United States Army before becoming an officer in the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in 1988. He was elected sheriff in 2014 and reelected in 2018. He won the Republican nomination for governor of Nevada in 2022 and narrowly defeated incumbent Democratic governor Steve Sisolak in the general election. Early life and education The son of a United States Air Force veteran, Lombardo was born in Sapporo, Japan, on November 8, 1962. He lived in Japan for over a decade before moving to Las Vegas in 1976. Lombardo graduated from Rancho High School in 1980. Lombardo attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from which he received a bachelor of science in civil engineering and a master of science in crisis management. He also completed the 227th session of the FBI National Academy in 2006. Early career Military service Lombardo joined the United States Army after graduating from high school in 1980. During his time in the Army, he served in the Nevada National Guard and in the United States Army Reserve. He ended his military service in 1986. Law enforcement career Lombardo joined the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department as an officer in 1988. He rose through the ranks, becoming a sergeant in 1996, a lieutenant in 2001, and a captain in 2006. He was promoted to assistant sheriff in 2011. As assistant sheriff, Lombardo was in charge of the law enforcement services group, which included the department's divisions in charge of technical services, information technology, radio systems and professional standards. Lombardo also sat on the board of directors of the LVMPD Foundation from 2007 to 2014. He retired from the police force after 26 years of service and stepped down from the foundation's board of directors in 2014 after being elected sheriff. Lombardo had made appearances on the TV show Cops during the early 2000s. Sheriff of Clark County First term (2015–2019) On December 4, 2013, Lombardo announced his candidacy for sheriff of Clark County to succeed the