In October 2022, Governor Pete Ricketts appointed Diane Sabatka-Rine interim director of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services. She directs an agency of 2,300 staff members and more than 5,000 incarcerated individuals throughout nine state facilities. 

Prior to her appointment as interim director, Sabatka-Rine was the agency's chief of operations. In that role, she served as the second-in-command for the agency and oversaw deputy directors for the divisions of prisons, programs, administrative services and industries. Her vision and inclusive approach to system management helped to identify and implement needed improvements to operations, looking for ways to make our work safer, more efficient and more effective. 

Sabatka-Rine began her NDCS career more than three decades ago as a corrections officer, and has since filled a number of roles including unit administrator, assistant warden, warden and deputy director. She enjoys the day-to-day challenges of her work and says she couldn’t ask for better coworkers.

“Success in this business is a team effort, it’s not an individual accomplishment,” Sabatka-Rine said. “NDCS team members do extraordinary things every day and it’s truly an honor to work with individuals of that caliber.”

Sabatka-Rine earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in sociology, from Wayne State College, where she received the Outstanding Alumni award in 2017.