Rick Garcia is a nationally recognized executive nurse leader and policy innovator with more than three decades of experience advancing public protection and strengthening the nursing workforce. He serves as Chief Executive Officer of the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing, representing more than 1,100 nursing programs and 400,000 students annually. Dr. Garcia led the adaptation of the Social Mission Metrics Survey, producing national guidance to support academic nursing in aligning education with community needs. He conceptualized the Falsified Identity Tracking System (FITS), adopted by all 59 U.S. nursing regulatory boards, which has identified more than 1,100 nurse imposters and fraudulent programs. FITS played a pivotal role in the FBI’s Operation Nightingale and continues to inform U.S. and global efforts to ensure licensure integrity and protect public safety. As Director of Nursing Education at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, he led the revision of Pathways to Excellence, based on a national survey of 147 PhD programs. This resulted in 70 policy recommendations for advancing nurse scientist preparation. His work emphasizes structural improvements in administration, student support, and faculty development. Dr. Garcia is widely published and honored by multiple national associations for his contributions to regulatory reform and education policy.