Colonel John Nelson

COL John Nelson is the White Sands Missile Range Senior Commander. He began his service in 1995 as an enlisted Armor Crewman and later commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduation from Officer Candidate School. He served as both a Tank Platoon Leader and Tank Company Commander in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II and 06-08 respectively. Following command, COL Nelson served as a Battalion Operations Officer at Fort Knox, Kentucky and subsequently as an Armor Company Observer Controller at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California. COL Nelson transitioned to the Acquisition Corps and served as both an Operational Test Officer and Military Evaluator. He also served as an Assistant Product Manager for Project Manager Soldier Weapons and as a Product Manager for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. COL Nelson graduated from the U.S. Army War College and went on to serve as the Yuma Proving Ground Senior Commander before assuming command at White Sands Missile Range.