John William Nicholson, Jr.
General, U.S. Army
Commander, Resolute Support Mission and U.S. Forces Afghanistan

John W. Nicholson, Jr. graduated from the U.S. Military Academy with the Class of 1982 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in History from Georgetown University, a Bachelor of Science degree from USMA, a Master's degree in Military Art and Science from the School for Advanced Military Studies, and a Master's degree in National Security Studies from National Defense University. 

Nicholson has led soldiers at all levels from platoon to division in Airborne, Ranger, Mechanized, Stryker and Light Infantry units in five different infantry divisions, and the 75th Ranger Regiment in the United States, Europe, and Afghanistan. 

His first five years of service were in the 82nd Airborne Division, and he has spent over three of the last six years in Afghanistan as Commander, 3 BCT, 10th Mountain Division (TF Spartan), in RC East in 2006-07, as the Deputy Commanding General of RC South under Dutch MG Maert de Kruif in 2008-09, and as the DCG-Operations for US Forces Afghanistan and Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations for NATO ISAF, from late 2010 to early 2012. 

Nicholson's Joint and Multinational experience also includes Deputy Director for Operations, J3, The Joint Staff; the Director of The Joint Staff's Pakistan-Afghanistan Coordination Cell; the Deputy Director for Operations and Intelligence for the Joint IED Defeat Organization; Special Assistant to the Commanding General, Peace Stabilization Force, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Commanding General, US Army Europe; and Chief of Operations at the George C. Marshall European Center for Strategic Studies.

Nicholson has also served on the immediate staffs of the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army. 

From October 2012-2014, Major General Nicholson served as Commanding General, 82nd Airborne Division. Then, as a Lieutenant General, in October 2014 he became Commanding General, Allied Land Command.

Medals, Awards, Badges and Tabs

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal
Defense Superior Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Legion of Merit with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device and Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal with 4 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters
Army Commendation Medal
Army Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 4 Bronze Service Stars
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Armed Forces Service Medal
Army Service Ribbon
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with Award Numeral 4
NATO Medal (Yugoslavia) with Bronze Service Star
Joint Meritorious Unit Award with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Combat Infantryman Badge (2nd Award)
Expert Infantryman Badge
Master Parachutist Badge
Pathfinder Badge
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge
Army Staff Identification Badge
Ranger Tab