Colonel Chris Nyland is the Chief of Staff of the National Defense University. In this role he integrates, synchronizes, and harmonizes all University activities and coordinates all aspects of the University’s resourcing and institutional administration functions.
Raised in an Army family, he graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1997. He is a 2018 Distinguished Graduate of the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy where he received a master's degree in National Resource Strategy with a concentration in Supply Chain Management. His research was focused on China, artificial intelligence, and sustainment in contested environments.
Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Infantry, his first assignment was with the 10th Mountain Division where he deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina. He then served in the 82d Airborne Division where he commanded an airborne infantry company in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment in both Afghanistan and Iraq. He also commanded the division's Long Range Surveillance Detachment and the Ranger Training Brigade's Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course.
He was assigned to the 3rd Infantry Division as a field-grade staff officer. He deployed to Iraq as a Combined Arms Battalion operations officer and then to Afghanistan as the Chief of Staff of a combined US and Australian Headquarters.
Colonel Nyland’s most recent operational assignment was in the Republic of Korea where he commanded the United Nations Command Security Battalion - Joint Security Area. Following command, he served as the Deputy Commander of the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division during their rotation to Korea.
As a Colonel, he served as the Military Deputy and Chief of Staff for the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs and then commanded the US Army Garrison, Fort George G. Meade.
A graduate of the US Army Ranger School, Colonel Chris Nyland is a master-rated Parachutist and Military Free-Fall Parachutist and earned the Combat Infantryman Badge among other badges and awards.
He married the former Ms. Christy Hill of New Orleans, Louisiana in 2001. Colonel Christy Nyland recently retired from the US Army after a career as a Military Intelligence officer.