COL Andrew Nichols, USAF

Colonel Andrew H. Nichols, United States Air Force Reserve, currently serves as Assistant Professor, National Security and Industrial Base, at the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University, and as Faculty Lead for the Cyber Domain/Advanced Computing Industry Study. He recently served at Headquarters Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) as Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) to the Deputy Director of Integrated Air, Space, Cyber and ISR Operations (DA2/3/6) while also supporting the U.S. Cyber Command’s (USCYBERCOM’s) Capabilities Development Group (CDG) (J6/J9) on active duty as Unified Platform Lead, and later, Chief, Requirements and Solutions Analysis.
From 2009 to 2015, Colonel Nichols served in the USCYBERCOM Directorate of Intelligence (J2), Legislative Liaison (LL), and Directorate of Operations (J3), leading actions to organize, equip, and employ the nation’s Cyber Mission Force, a joint organization that includes 133 cyber teams. For USCYBERCOM, Colonel Nichols led the Priorities Working Group, supported liaison with the U.S. Congress, and led and managed intelligence resources required to provide cyberspace awareness, plan information operations, and improve the command and control of cyberspace effects. He started his career after studying mechanical engineering at the University of Utah on an Air Force scholarship, and later served in the acquisition, aircraft maintenance, and intelligence career fields.
From 2007 to 2008, for U.S. Strategic Command's (USSTRATCOM’s) Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR), Col Nichols developed new methods to assess the effectiveness of ISR resources, and facilitate ISR acquisition decisions. In 2008-09, at the National Defense Intelligence College, he refined these methods, and studied Chinese national strategy and U.S.-Russian relations.
In the private sector in 2006-07, Col Nichols consulted for the intelligence research and analysis unit of a Virginia-based strategy and consulting firm. In this capacity, he helped clients in the Department of the Treasury's Office of Intelligence and Analysis counter the flow of money and other resources to global terrorist groups. In earlier roles, he completed an internship with the U.S. Department of State in Chennai, India, served as a course assistant for International Capital Markets at the Kennedy School of Government, and twice served as a rapporteur for the school's Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security. Later, at the Kennedy School, he studied international security policy, international economic and financial policy, and political advocacy.
Col Nichols is a Joint Qualified Officer (level III). He holds a level III certification in cyberspace operations, and is an Air Force acquisition professional with level II in Systems Planning, Research, Development & Engineering, and level I in Program Management and Test and Evaluation. He is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). He earned a private pilot (instrument) and other flying certifications in 1988-91.
EDUCATION 1990 Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
1995 Master of Business Administration (Finance), Wright State University, Dayton, OH
1995 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base (AFB), AL
2004 Advanced French Language Immersion Program, Middlebury College Language Schools, Middlebury, VT
2005 Master in Public Administration, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2005 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
2006 Non-Degree Program, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
2007 Intermediate Mandarin Chinese, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington, DC
2009 Master of Science of Strategic Intelligence, National Defense Intelligence College (NDIC), Washington, DC
2012 Air War College, by correspondence
2012 Joint Information Operations Planning Course (JIOPC), Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC), Norfolk, VA
2013 Advanced Joint Professional Military Education (AJPME), JFSC, Norfolk, VA
2014 Reserve Component National Security Course (RCNSC), National Defense University, Washington, DC
2017 Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA), The George Washington University, Washington, DC
ASSIGNMENTS
1. June 1991 – February 1994, F-15 Engine Structures Engineer (F100-PW-229 for F-15E and F-16C/D), Subsystems System Program Office (SPO), Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC), Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
2. February 1994 – January 1996, C-17 Airframe Team Leader, C-17 SPO, ASC, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH
3. October 1995 – December 1995, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
4. January 1996 – April 1996, Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course (distinguished graduate), Sheppard AFB, TX
5. April 1996 – November 1998, Maintenance Supervisor and subordinate roles, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (F-15E)
6. November 1998 – September 2000, Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) and Intelligence Applications Officer, 4th Operations Support Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (F-15E)
7. April 1999 – December 1999, Air Force Intelligence Officer Course, Goodfellow AFB, TX
8. January 2000 – June 2000, Balkans Intelligence Analyst, Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), Mons, Belgium (U.S. European Command – USEUCOM)
9. September 2000 – October 2000, Language and Area Studies Immersion (LASI) Program, Tunis, Tunisia
10. January 2001 – June 2001, Senior Balkans Analyst, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium (USEUCOM)
11. November 2001 – November 2002, Balkans CT Analyst, Joint Analysis Center Molesworth, UK (USEUCOM)
12. May 2003 – July 2003, Eurasia Analyst, SHAPE, Mons, Belgium (USEUCOM)
13. December 2003 – June 2004, Eurasia Analyst, Joint Analysis Center Molesworth, UK (USEUCOM)
14. October 2007 – August 2008, Assessments Officer, Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR), Bolling AFB, DC (USSTRATCOM)
15. October 2007 – August 2009, National Defense Intelligence College, Bolling AFB, DC
16. August 2009 – September 2011, Lead Information Operations (IO) Intelligence Planner and Joint Operations Center (JOC) Supervisor, Joint Functional Component Command – Network Warfare (JFCC-NW) and U.S. Cyber Command (J23), Fort Meade, MD (USSTRATCOM)
17. September 2011 – November 2012, Joint Intelligence Operations Center (JIOC) Operations Officer, with duty as J23 Chief of Staff, USCYBERCOM, Fort Meade, MD (USSTRATCOM)
18. November 2012 – February 2013, Deputy Chief, Legislative Liaison, USCYBERCOM, Fort Meade, MD
19. February 2013 – July 2015, Future Operations Planner and Deputy Lead, Unified Platform Team, Directorate of Operations (J3), USCYBERCOM, Fort Meade, MD (USSTRATCOM)
20. August 2015 – July 2018, IMA to the Dep. Dir. of Integrated Air, Space, Cyber, and ISR Operations (DA2/3/6), HQ Air Force Space Command, Peterson AFB, CO, with active duty as Unified Platform Lead, and Chief, Requirements and Solutions Analysis, USCYBERCOM Capabilities Development Group (CDG) at Fort Meade, MD
21. July 2018 – Present, Assistant Professor, National Security and Industrial Base, National Defense University, Fort McNair, Washington, D.C.
MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS Defense Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Meritorious Service Medal
Joint Service Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters Joint Service Achievement Medal with oak leaf cluster
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Recognition Ribbon (John J. Welch, Jr., Award for Excellence in Acquisition Management)
Kosovo Campaign Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION Second Lieutenant June 8, 1990 First Lieutenant December 4, 1992
Captain December 4, 1994 Major December 4, 2001
Lieutenant Colonel December 4, 2008
Colonel June 1, 2015