CW4 Nielsen was born in Reno and was raised in Carson City, Nevada. He began his military career in on active duty in 1994, attending basic and advanced individual training as a Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Operations Specialist at Ft. McClellan, Alabama. CW4 Nielsen was then stationed at Ft. Polk, Louisiana. After his initial enlistment he joined the Louisiana National Guard, and attended college at Northwestern State. After completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, he returned to Nevada and was assigned to the 717th MEDEVAC Company as a Flight Operations Specialist. Mr. Nielsen deployed with the 717th to Kosovo in 2001. CW4 Nielsen began his Warrant Officer career when he was selected to attend flight school. He attended Warrant Officer Candidate School at Ft. Rucker and graduated flight school in 2004, as a 154D CH-47 Chinook Pilot. CW4 Nielsen deployed to Afghanistan in 2005 with D Co. 113th Aviation. He again deployed to Haiti in 2010 with B Co. 1/189th General Aviation Support Battalion. In 2010 he was selected to assist the Republic of Singapore Air Force in flight training under the Foreign Military Sales program. Mr. Nielsen returned to the Nevada Army National Guard in 2015. In 2019, he deployed to Iraq as the Standardization Instructor Pilot for B Co. 1/189th. He has held various assignments including Maintenance Test Pilot, Standardization Instructor Pilot, Instrument Examiner and State Aviation Safety Officer. CW4 Nielsen has 26 years of military service.
CW4 Nielsen’s military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Medal (with “V” device), Air Medal (with “C” device), Air Medal (with numeral 4), Army Commendation Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters), National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Silver Hourglass, numeral 2 and “M” device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral 2), Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, NATO Kosovo Medal, Combat Action Badge (2nd award), Aircraft Crewman Badge, Master Aviator Badge.
CW4 Nielsen is married to Jeanette Nielsen of Hilo, HI. He has two children, Dylan and Kaylee. CW4 Nielsen and his family reside in Carson City, Nevada.