Capt. Jim Nelson
Commanding Officer, NAVCOMTELSTA (NCTS) Guam
18 October 2023
Capt. Nelson is a Mississippi native. After graduating from the Magee High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 and reported to Recruit Training Command, San Diego, Calif. After completion of recruit training, he attended Data Systems Technician (DS) “A” and “C” schools in Mare Island, Calif.
His enlisted assignments included serving as a computer technician aboard USS John Rodgers (DD-983); Systems Administrator at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC), Orlando, Fla.; Fire Controlman aboard USS Gary (FFG-51) and USS Thach (FFG-43), where he selected to Chief Petty Officer in 2001. His enlisted career ended aboard USS Thach when he earned his commission in November 2002 under the Limited Duty Officer’s Program.
His assignments since commissioning include the Navy Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific (NCTAMS PAC) Detachment, Diego Garcia as the Assistant Officer in Charge, followed by a tour as the Operations Officer for Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS), Bahrain, where he led the command’s effort to relocate family members out of Bahrain. In 2006, Capt. Nelson reported to Commander 7
th Fleet aboard the flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). In 2009 he was assigned as the Force Communications Officer and Communications Planner at Naval Forces Europe / Naval Forces Africa / Commander 6
th Fleet, Naples, Italy. During his tour, he served as the J6 for both Operations Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) in Morocco and the Joint Force Maritime Component Command (JFMCC) for operation ODYSSEY DAWN, embarked aboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). CAPT Nelson then served as the Combat Systems Information Officer (CSIO), aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74). After a successful Arabian Gulf deployment, he led the first carrier Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) installation. In 2016, Capt. Nelson served as the Executive Officer of NCTS Guam and as then as the Information Professional Junior Detailer. In 2019 he served as the Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber and Intelligence Officer (C5I) aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19). During his tour, he successfully maintained critical communications supporting Commander 7
th Fleet and III Marine Expeditionary Force Commander and their staffs in the mists of COVID 19, aboard the oldest active ship in the U.S. Navy while executing the longest consecutive underway in the ship’s history. His last assignment was the Officer-in-Charge, Defense Information System Agency, Central Forward, Bahrain.
Capt. Nelson currently serves as Commanding Officer at NAVCOMTELSTA Guam.
Capt. Nelson’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Metal, Meritorious Service Metal (two awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medals (seven awards), Navy Achievement Medals (six awards), as well as several campaign medals and unit awards.