Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. A graduate of the Naval War College and the Naval Postgraduate School, he also holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in National Security Affairs and a Bachelor’s of Science in Systems Engineering.

Operationally, he has completed sea duty assignments onboard USS Mitscher (DDG 57), USS McFaul (DDG 74), and USS O’Bannon (DD 987). His Command tours include USS Defender (MCM 2), USS Gladiator (MCM 11), USS Sentry (MCM 3), USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and Destroyer Squadron 22.

His shore assignments include the Chief of Naval Operations Staff, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Joint Staff. His combat tours include Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Helmand, Afghanistan and Commander of Provincial Reconstruction Team and Forward Operating Base, Farah, Afghanistan.

His Flag Officer assignments include 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; Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Two; and Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans, and Strategy, N3/N5B, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

He assumed his current duties as Commander, Military Sealift Command in November 2025.

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

Last Updated: 30 March 2026