Brian Andrew Nichols[1] (born 1965 in Providence, Rhode Island[2]) is an American diplomat serving as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Nichols served as the United States Ambassador to Peru from 2014 until 2017, when he was succeeded by Krishna Urs.

[6] During the George Floyd protests in the United States, Nichols was summoned by the government of Zimbabwe after U.S. Secretary Advisor Robert C. O'Brien labeled Zimbabwe as a "foreign adversary" that was fomenting the protests and threatened with retaliatory action.

[7] In late July 2020, he was threatened with expulsion from the country and called a "thug" by the ruling party after accusations that he was helping organizers of an anti-government march against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

[8] On March 26, 2021, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Nichols to serve as Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.