Commander Jonathan Nelson

Commanding Officer

CDR Nelson hails from Lake Orion, Michigan. In 2002, he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Systems Engineering and he holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Northeastern University.

He completed a Junior Officer tour in USS COLUMBIA (SSN 771) from December 2003 to November 2006 in which he completed a six-month western pacific deployment and two two-month deployments, also to the western pacific. During his Department Head tour from June 2009 to October 2011, he served as the Engineer Officer in USS NEBRASKA (SSBN 739 GOLD) and completed five strategic deterrent patrols.

He served as a Junior Board Member for the Pacific Fleet’s Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board from November 2011 to March 2015, in which he completed over 60 exams and served as both the Board Scheduler and Executive Officer. Following that tour, he was selected to relieve as Executive Officer of the Submarine Learning Center, Detachment San Diego from May 2015 to May 2017 where he led over 60 Sailors and oversaw 15 major training events.

Following a tour in Naples, Italy as the Assistant Chief of Staff to Commander, Submarine Group 8, CDR Nelson relieved as Executive Officer of Naval Ocean Processing Facility, Whidbey Island (NOPFWI). As of January 2022, he fleeted-up as the NOPFWI Commanding Officer.

CDR Nelson is authorized to wear the Meritorious Service Medal (2), the Navy Commendation Medal (4), the Navy Achievement Medal (2) and various other unit awards.