BA, Southern Illinois Univ. Carbondale, IL, 1983
MHA, Baylor Univ., Waco, TX, 1994
Commander, Naval Hosp., Camp Pendleton, CA, 2005 to present
Commander, Naval Hosp. Camp Lejeune, NC, 2005
Dir. Admin., Naval Hosp. Camp Lejeune, NC, 2003-05
Dir. Admin., Naval Hosp., Okinawa, 1999-2002
Sen. Prog. Anal., OASD Health Affairs, Washington, DC, 1996-99
Head, Managed Care Div., Naval Hosp., Jacksonville, FL, 1994-96
Resident, Naval Hosp., Jacksonville, FL, 1993-94
Captain Nichols is the Commanding Officer of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton. A native of Beloit, Wisconsin, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1972 and, during the ensuing nine years, served in the U.S. and overseas as a Hospital Corpsman, Clinical Nuclear Medicine Technician, and Clinical Nuclear Medicine Instructor..
Captain Nichols was selected for commissioning in the Medical Service Corps in 1981 and was assigned to the Naval Dental Clinic, Bremerton, Washington, where he served as Fiscal and Supply Officer. He reported to USS MIDWAY (CV-41) in 1984 for duty as Medical Administrative Officer, completing multiple WESTPAC deployments while onboard. He transferred to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in 1986 where he served as a Financial Systems Analyst and as a member of the Medical Inventory Control System (MICS) implementation team.
In 1987, he reported to U.S. Naval Hospital, Keflavik, Iceland, as the command's first Executive Officer (and Comptroller). Following his XO tour, he reported to Blount Island Command, Jacksonville, Florida, in 1989 as Head of Medical Logistics for the Marine Corps Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF) and Norway Air-Landed MEB Programs. During that tour, he was also deployed in 1991 as Supply Officer with Fleet Hospital Fifteen in Saudi Arabia during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.
In 1992, Captain Nichols attended the U.S. Army-Baylor University Graduate Program in Healthcare Administration, followed by his Administrative Residency at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida. His follow-on tour in 1994 at Naval Hospital, Jacksonville included service as Interim Officer in Charge of the Branch Medical Clinic, NAS Atlanta, and as Head, Managed Care Department where he was extensively involved in the implementation of TRICARE in 1996. He was subsequently assigned to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) in 1996 where he served as Director of Financial Strategy and Performance and as Executive Officer to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Budgets and Financial Policy). Following that tour, he reported to U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa in 1998 as Director for Administration. He transferred to the Medical Inspector General staff at the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery in 2001 as an Inspector/Surveyor and Director of Administrative Matters. In June 2002, Captain Nichols moved to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations for duty as Deputy Director, Medical Resources, Plans, and Policy Division (N931). He subsequently reported to Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune in October 2003, serving as Executive Officer, and as Commanding Officer, Fleet Hospital Camp Lejeune. Captain Nichols then transferred to Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California and assumed command of Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton July 27, 2005.
He is a 1983 graduate of Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Services and received his Master of Health Administration from Baylor University in 1994. He is board certified in healthcare management and a Diplomate in the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is also a Life Member of the Federal Healthcare Executives Institute Alumni Association.
Captain Nichols' personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (five awards) and the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal.