Col. James Nelson is the interim Deputy Commander, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, Air Force Materiel Command, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The center serves as an intermediate-level headquarters responsible for providing installation and mission support capabilities to 83 Air Force and Space Force installations, nine Air Force major commands and two direct reporting units with an annual budget of $13 billion. One of six centers assigned to AFMC, the unit's cross-functional team integrates security forces, civil engineering, base communications, logistics readiness, installation ministry programs, public affairs, services, operational acquisition, and financial management across 10 detachments and four primary subordinate units. Those units are the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Air Force Installation Contracting Center, Air Force Security Forces Center and Air Force Services Center.
Col. Nelson is originally from Texas and received his commission from the United States Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps at Angelo State University in 2004. He is a career Security Forces officer and has served in a variety of assignments, including instructor, operations officer, executive officer, staff officer, squadron commander, and group deputy commander. Prior to his current position, he served as the Deputy Commander for Support at the Air Force Security Forces Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas.
EDUCATION
2004 Bachelor of Science, Psychology, Angelo State University, San Angelo, Texas
2004 Aerospace Basic Course, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2009 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Master of Arts, Security Management, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2018 Master of Arts, Military Operational Art and Science, Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
ASSIGNMENTS
1. July 2004–September 2005, Flight Commander, 91st Missile Security Forces Squadron, Minot AFB, N.D.
2. September 2005–December 2005, Section Commander/Convoy Commander, 91st MSFS, Minot AFB, N.D.
3. December 2005–December 2006, Assistant Operations Officer/Convoy Commander, 91st MSFS, Minot AFB, N.D.
4. December 2006–May 2007, Officer in Charge Maintenance Security/Convoy Commander, 791st MSFS, Minot AFB, N.D.
5. May 2007–September 2008, Executive Officer, 90th Security Forces Group, F. E. Warren AFB, Wyo. (May 2008–September 2008, Force Protection Officer, 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Bagram, Afghanistan)
6. September 2008–September 2009, Operations Officer/Convoy Commander, 790th MSFS, F. E. Warren, AFB, Wyo.
7. October 2009–April 2010, Chief, Integrated Defense Section, Barksdale AFB, LA.
8. April 2010–January 2011, Executive Officer, Security Forces Division, Barksdale AFB, La.
9. January 2011–November 2011, Aide de Camp, Iraqi Training and Advising Mission - Police, Baghdad, Iraq
10. December 2011–June 2013, Chief, Security Forces Training Section, Barksdale AFB, La.
11. June 2013–April 2015, Commander, 17th Security Forces Squadron, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
12. April 2015–April 2016, Flight Commander, 33d Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
13. April 2016–July 2017, Director of Operations, 33d Student Squadron, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
14. July 2017–June 2018, Student, Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
15. June 2018–July 2020, Commander, 30th Security Forces Squadron, Vandenberg AFB, Calif.
16. August 2020–May 2022, Deputy Commander, 91st Security Forces Group, Minot AFB, N.D.
17. June 2022–June 2024, Commander, 31st Security Forces Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy
18. June 2024–June 2025, Director of Surety Integration (A10), 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy
19. June 2025–May 2026, Deputy Commander for Support, Air Force Security Forces Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas
20. May 2026–Present, Interim Deputy Commander, Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center, JBSA-Lackland, Texas
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant May 14, 2004
First Lieutenant May 14, 2006
Captain May 14, 2008
Major December 1, 2014
Lieutenant Colonel June 1, 2019
Colonel May 1, 2025
(Current as of May 2026)