Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson

Commander, Military Sealift Command

13 November 2025 Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson is a graduate of the Naval War College, Naval Postgraduate School, and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy.

Nicholson’s previous Flag Officer Assignment was as Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two.  As a Flag Officer, he also served as Commander: Joint Region Marianas, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, Task Force West; and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Senior Military Official for Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau.

His sea duty Command assignments include Destroyer Squadron 22, USS Pinckney (DDG 91), USS Sentry (MCM 3), USS Gladiator (MCM 11), and USS Defender (MCM 2).  He has also served aboard USS O’Bannon (DD 987), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS Mitscher (DDG 57).

Nicholson’s ashore combat tours include Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Helmand, Afghanistan; and Commander of Provincial Reconstruction Team and Forward Operating Base, Farah, Afghanistan.  He has also served ashore on the Joint Staff, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chief of Naval Operations staff.

Nicholson’s military decorations include various individual, campaign and unit awards.  He is also a recipient of the FBI Director’s Award.