Robert A. Hardwick was elected as the 28th St. Johns County Sheriff in November of 2020 and officially took office on January 5, 2021. Prior to serving as Sheriff, he served as the 11th Chief of Police for the St. Augustine Beach Police Department from 2013-2020. He also served as the Assistant Chief Investigator with the Office of the State Attorney 7th Judicial Circuit from 2008-2013. During his 30 plus year law enforcement career, Sheriff Hardwick also worked at the St. Augustine Police Department, the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections.

As a veteran of the U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard, Sheriff Hardwick has participated in multiple deployments to the Middle East in support of military operations. His deployments include as far back as Operation Desert Storm in 1990 with the 82nd Airborne Division and during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004 with the 53rd Infantry Brigade supporting the 5th Special Forces Group. His last assignment was with the Florida Army National Guard as a Platoon Trainer (TAC) at the Camp Blanding Regional Training Institute’s Officer Candidate School (OCS). In 2018, after 25 years of combined service, Sheriff Hardwick honorably retired.

Sheriff Hardwick has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Flagler College and a Master of Arts Degree from Barry University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy-Session 247, the FBI’s Florida Executive Development Seminar-Class 16 and the FBI’s National Executive Institute-Class 44. Sheriff Hardwick is also a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s Chief Executive Seminar-Session 48.

In August of 2016, Governor Rick Scott appointed Sheriff Hardwick to the Criminal Justice and Standards Training Commission (CJSTC). He was also the Chair for the Florida League of Cities’ Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP). Sheriff Hardwick currently serves on the Region V Training Council, the St. Johns River State College Criminal Justice Academy Advisory Board, and as a Commissioner on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). He also serves on the School Advisory Board for St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School and the UF Health St. Johns Care Connect Board. Sheriff Hardwick serves on the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA) Legislative Committee, the Accreditation Advisory Committee and the Chair for the Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) Working Group. Additionally, former Speaker of the House Paul Renner appointed Sheriff Hardwick to the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement in July of 2023. In 2024, he was named as a Board Member for the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence (FFCE). In 2025, Sheriff Hardwick was added to the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC) as a Commissioner. Most recently, Sheriff Hardwick was given the honor of joining the Board of Directors for the Florida Sheriff’s Association (FSA).

Sheriff Hardwick has been married to his wife, Kendell, for 35 years, she is the Director of Nursing for the St. Johns County School District, and they have two adult sons.

Robert A. Hardwick was elected as the 28th St. Johns County Sheriff in November of 2020 and officially took office on January 5, 2021. Prior to serving as Sheriff, he served as the 11th Chief of Police for the St. Augustine Beach Police Department from 2013-2020. He also served as the Assistant Chief Investigator with the Office of the State Attorney 7th Judicial Circuit from 2008-2013. During his 30 plus year law enforcement career, Sheriff Hardwick also worked at the St. Augustine Police Department, the Flagler County Sheriff&rsquo;s Office and the Florida Department of Corrections.
As a veteran of the U.S. Army and Florida Army National Guard, Sheriff Hardwick has participated in multiple deployments to the Middle East in support of military operations. His deployments include as far back as Operation Desert Storm in 1990 with the 82nd Airborne Division and during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2004 with the 53rd Infantry Brigade supporting the 5th Special Forces Group. His last assignment was with the Florida Army National Guard as a Platoon Trainer (TAC) at the Camp Blanding Regional Training Institute&rsquo;s Officer Candidate School (OCS). In 2018, after 25 years of combined service, Sheriff Hardwick honorably retired.
Sheriff Hardwick has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Flagler College and a Master of Arts Degree from Barry University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy-Session 247, the FBI&rsquo;s Florida Executive Development Seminar-Class 16 and the FBI&rsquo;s National Executive Institute-Class 44. Sheriff Hardwick is also a graduate of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement&rsquo;s Chief Executive Seminar-Session 48.
In August of 2016, Governor Rick Scott appointed Sheriff Hardwick to the Criminal Justice and Standards Training Commission (CJSTC). He was also the Chair for the Florida League of Cities&rsquo; Law Enforcement Advisory Panel (LEAP). Sheriff Hardwick currently serves on the Region V Training Council, the St. Johns River State College Criminal Justice Academy Advisory Board, and as a Commissioner on the Commission for Florida Law Enforcement Accreditation (CFA). He also serves on the School Advisory Board for St. Joseph Academy Catholic High School and the UF Health St. Johns Care Connect Board. Sheriff Hardwick serves on the Florida Sheriff&rsquo;s Association (FSA) Legislative Committee, the Accreditation Advisory Committee and the Chair for the Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) Working Group. Additionally, former Speaker of the House Paul Renner appointed Sheriff Hardwick to the Statewide Council on Opioid Abatement in July of 2023. In 2024, he was named as a Board Member for the Florida Foundation for Correctional Excellence (FFCE). In 2025, Sheriff Hardwick was added to the Florida Corrections Accreditation Commission (FCAC) as a Commissioner. Most recently, Sheriff Hardwick was given the honor of joining the Board of Directors for the Florida Sheriff&rsquo;s Association (FSA).
Sheriff Hardwick has been married to his wife, Kendell, for 35 years, she is the Director of Nursing for the St. Johns County School District, and they have two adult sons.

The Joe Mullins Show - Live, Work, Shop, Play In Florida! is a weekly radio show about Florida with Joe Mullins

The Joe Mullins Show - Live, Work, Shop, Play In Florida! is a weekly radio show about Florida with Joe Mullins

Live, Work, Shop, and Play, In Florida

Live, Work, Shop, and Play, In Florida