Jeremiah Nelson promoted to Colonel
Colonel Jeremiah (Jay) Nelson is a native of Martin, South Dakota. He is a 1997 graduate of the University of South Dakota where he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry.
LTC Nelson worked for five years in forestry and fisheries for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Parks Service and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. In 2001 he returned to school, received the Army Health Professions scholarship and commissioned as a Veterinary Corps First Lieutenant in 2003. After graduating from Washington State University with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 2005 he was promoted to Captain in the Veterinary Corps.
His initial assignment was Chief of Veterinary Services at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. In 2007 he was assigned as Officer in Charge of Veterinary Services in Rota Naval Station, Spain. From 2010 to 2011 he was a team leader for the 438th Medical Detachment Veterinary Service Support (MDVSS) in Fort Carson, Colorado. LTC Nelson’s utilization tour, following a Masters degree in Public Health from Oregon State University was battalion veterinarian for the 81st Civil Affairs BN, Fort Hood and became the 85th Civil Affairs Brigade Veterinarian in 2017. From 2017 to 2020 LTC Nelson served as the Deputy Commander for Public Health Activity Rheinland-Pfalz in Germany. He returned to the Great Place to command the mighty 43rd MDVSS from July 2020 to July 2022 and is currently a First Year Graduate Veterinary Education Instructor at Public Health Activity Fort Cavazos.
LTC Nelson is a graduate of the Army Medical Department Officer Basic and Advanced course, U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. He is board certified in the American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine. LTC Nelson’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon, the Expert Field Medical Badge and Airborne and Air Assault qualification badges.
Since 1998 Jay has been sharing his life with best friend and wife, Lauren; they have one daughter, Lili and two sons, Thomas and Wyatt. Thomas graduates high school this year and starts college at Purdue summer of 2023.