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Nelson L Emmons

Faculty Associate - Research
Systems Engineering

Phone: (831) 656-2382

Overview

Colonel Nelson L. Emmons, U.S. Army (retired), is a Faculty Associate for Research in the Systems Engineering Department at the Naval Postgraduate School. He is a proven leader and military professional with more than twenty years of experience in leadership, management, business operations, strategic planning, critical thinking, operations research, and communication with a proven record of unprecedented accomplishments at all levels. With over 10 years of experience as an Army-trained and school-trained Operations Research/Systems Analyst (FA49 specialty), specifically in the Pacific Theater – having served multiple tours at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Headquarters, the U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters, and the 25th Infantry Division – he constantly applied quantitative and qualitative methods in support of research efforts and operational requirements based on OR methodologies, system analysis, and simulated modeling results.

As a former Strategic Planner in the Pacific Theater, he is adept at developing strategies, decision models, and analysis to advise senior executives while integrating extensive operations research focused experience in solving a variety of complex management challenges in a dynamic and challenging environment. He co-authored multiple strategic initiatives and planning directives for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and the U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters with extensive coordination across the Joint Staff, Office of the Secretary of Defense, Service Departments, USINDOPACOM Service Components and Sub-unified Commands, and with high-level representatives from foreign nations. His research expertise includes forward-basing initiatives, war-gaming, pre-position stocks, modeling, and phased force flow.

Nelson holds a M.S. in Strategy and Policy from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, PA, and a M.S. in Applied Mathematics from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He is a 1989 graduate from the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY with a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering. He taught Multi-Variable Calculus and Probability and Statistics as an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences at West Point.
Education
  • MS - Naval Postgraduate School 1997
  • BS - United States Military Academy 1989
NPS Experience
  • 2023 - current: Faculty Associate-Research
  • 2017 - 2022: Associate Dean
  • 2013 - 2017: Military Associate Dean
Other Experience
  • 2011 - 2012 Deputy G5 Plans Chief, G5 Plans and Policy Directorate, U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters, Fort Shafter, HI
  • 2008 - 2011 J542 Southeast Asia Plans Branch Chief, J5 Policy and Strategy Directorate, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith, HI
  • 2006 - 2007 Chief, Iraqi Security Forces Assessment Cell, Multi-National Division-North (MND-N), COB Speicher, Iraq
  • 2005 - 2008 Operations Research / Systems Analyst, G3 Operations, 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI
  • 2003 - 2004 Special Assistant, Joint Task Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters, Makalapa, HI
  • 2001 - 2005 Operations Research / Systems Analyst, G3 Plans Division, U.S. Army Pacific Headquarters, Fort Shafter, HI
  • 1997 - 2000 Associate Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences, US Military Academy, West Point, NY
Research Interests
Phased Force Flow
Forward-Basing Initiatives
Wargaming
Pre-Position Stocks
Modeling
Teaching Interests
Multi-Variable Calculus
Differential Equations
Probability and Statistics
Operations Research / Systems Analysis

Boards, Memberships, & Certifications

Professional Memberships
  • 2013 Naval Postgraduate School Foundation
  • 2013 West Point Society of the Monterey Peninsula
  • 2012 Army War College Foundation
  • 2001 West Point Society of Hawaii
  • 1989 West Point Association of Graduates