Captain Laura Nilsen is an Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies and Education Officer at the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Detachment 765, The Citadel. As the Education Officer, she is responsible for overseeing the completion of all instruction-related activities and cadre training for one of the second largest cadet corps in the Air Force.
Captain Nilsen enlisted in 2010 as a 1N3 Farsi and Dari Cryptologic Language Analyst and commissioned as a 14N Intelligence Officer in 2018 through Officer Training School at Maxwell AFB, AL. Prior to her current assignment, she served as the Assistant Director of Operations for the 22d Surveillance Squadron at the Air Force Technical Applications Center. She oversaw operations for the DoW’s sole 24/7 nuclear treaty monitoring watch center utilizing a $10B multi-domain sensor network. She also managed Air Combat Command’s primary Directed Energy Weapons collection mission and the U.S. Air Force’s only mobile radar operations onboard the USNS Howard O. Lorenzen naval vessel.
Education
2008 Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bethel University, St. Paul, MN
2012 Persian-Farsi Basic Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CA
2012 Persian-Dari Basic Course, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CA
2012 AA Degree in Persian Farsi, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, CA
2012 Persian Farsi Cryptologic Language Analyst Course, Goodfellow AFB, TX
2014 Airman Leadership School, Ft. Meade, MD
2018 Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, AL
2018 Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Goodfellow AFB, TX
2026 Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, AL
Assignments
February 2011 – July 2012, Student, Persian Farsi and Persian Dari Basic Courses, Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey, California
July 2012 – November 2012, Student, Persian Farsi Cryptologic Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
November 2012 – January 2016, Cryptologic Operator and NCOIC Mission Management, 94th Intelligence Squadron, Ft. Meade, Maryland
January 2016 – January 2018, Technical Training Instructor, Persian Farsi Cryptologic Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
January 2018 – March 2018, Student, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Alabama
March 2018 – November 2018, Student, Intelligence Officer Basic Course, Goodfellow AFB, Texas
November 2018 – December 2022, OIC Regional Analysis, 51st Intelligence Squadron, Shaw AFB, South Carolina
December 2022 – July 2026, Mission Director, Assistant Director of Operations, 22d Surveillance Squadron, Patrick SFB, FL
July 2026 – Present, Associate Professor of Aerospace Studies and Education Officer, AFROTC Detachment 765, The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Major Awards and Decorations
Air & Space Commendation Medal
Effective Dates of Promotion
Second Lieutenant March 5, 2018
First Lieutenant July 5, 2020
Captain May 5, 2024
(CURRENT AS OF AUGUST 2026)