Capt. Jim Nelson
Commanding Officer, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS) Bahrain
28 July 2025
Capt. Nelson is a native of Mississippi. He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1989 and reported to Recruit Training Command, San Diego, Calif. His enlisted assignments included serving as a Data Systems technician aboard USS John Rodgers (DD-983); systems administrator at the Navy Nuclear Power Training Command, Orlando, Fla.; Fire Controlman aboard USS Gary (FFG-51); and USS Thach (FFG-43) where he promoted to Information Systems Technician Chief in 2001. He earned his commission in November 2002 via 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; Operations Officer for Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station (NCTS), Bahrain. In 2006 Capt. Nelson reported to Commander 7
th Fleet aboard the flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) followed by a tour as the Fleet Communications Officer and Communications Planner at Naval Forces Europe / Naval Forces Africa / Commander 6
th Fleet, Naples, Italy. During this tour, he served as the J6 for both Operations Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore in Morocco and the Joint Force Maritime Component Command for operation Odyssey Dawn, embarked aboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20). Capt. Nelson then served as the Combat Systems Information Officer, 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 followed by a tour at Navy Personnel Command 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, III Marine Expeditionary Force Commander and their staffs on board in the mists of COVID 19, followed by an assignment as the Officer-in-Charge, Defense Information System Agency, Central Command Forward, Bahrain. His previous assignment was at NCTS Guam as the Commanding Officer.
Capt. Nelson currently serves as Commanding Officer at NCTS Bahrain.
Capt. Nelson’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit, 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.