​Bruce began his career in 2008 as a correctional officer at Western Kentucky Correctional Complex (WKCC). He promoted to correctional sergeant in 2012 and to correctional lieutenant in 2014. In 2015, he promoted to unit administrator I, where he managed general population and restrictive housing at WKCC, as well as the minimum unit assessment unit at the Ross-Cash Center. He joined the Kentucky State Penitentiary (KSP) team in 2020 as a unit administrator II managing the restrictive housing units. He promoted to deputy warden at KSP in 2022.

During his career, he also served as adjustment chairman, grievance coordinator, ADA coordinator, and WKCC Kentucky Offender Management System liaison. Bruce was also a less lethal/chemical agents and TASER instructor and is currently a DOC-certified firearms instructor. Bruce served on the Corrections Emergency Response Team (CERT) at both WKCC and KSP for a combined twelve years and was CERT commander of WKCC between 2019-2020.

Since 2012, he has been a member of Kentucky Council on Crime and Delinquency and previously served as Four Rivers Chapter President.

Bruce graduated from Murray State in 2016 with a bachelor's degree in integrated studies. He received several awards including Supervisor of the Quarter and the 2020 WKCC Achievement Award. He graduated from the Western Region ILEAD program in 2016.