Staff

          Captain Chris Nelson, a native of Corvallis, Oregon, graduated in 1994 from the University of Colorado, where he earned a commission as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

          Captain Nelson served his initial sea tours in USS MERRILL (DD-976) and USS BOXER (LHD-4), and his Department Head tours in USS CARTER HALL (LSD-50) as Chief Engineer, and as Material and Readiness Officer for Amphibious Squadron FOUR.  CAPT Nelson served his XO tours in USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47), and at Beachmaster Unit ONE in Coronado, CA.

          In June of 2012, CAPT Nelson assumed command of Beachmaster Unit ONE, serving two years in Command.  Following the BMU-1 CO tour, CAPT Nelson reported as Commander, Task Group 56.11 in Bahrain, where he commanded all Riverine Forces permanently stationed in the 5th Fleet operating area – providing maritime security to military sealift and prepositioning ships assigned to Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). 

          CAPT Nelson's shore tours include service as an Associate Professor of Naval Science at the University of Colorado as well as Maritime Operations Officer and Amphibious Planner for Marine Corps Forces Europe in Stuttgart, Germany. Following his tour in Bahrain, CAPT Nelson completed a Joint Tour at NORAD and US Northern Command as Chief of Current Operations.

          Following his Joint tour, CAPT Nelson commanded the Swift Intruders of Assault Craft Unit FIVE in Camp Pendleton, California for three years, during which time the command was recognized with back-to-back CNO Safety Awards and the Secretary of Defense Maintenance Award.

          After completing his major command tour, Captain Nelson assumed command of the Naval ROTC Unit at Purdue University, where he is currently serving.

          CAPT Nelson's personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, multiple Meritorious Service Medals and Naval Commendations, along with various other unit and individual awards.

 

          Commander Scott C. Hudson was born in Ashland, Oregon. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1992 and reported to Schofield Barracks HI. as a member of A Battery 1-62 Air Defense Artillery where he earned his Air Assault Wings and deployed to Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy

          In June 1995, CDR Hudson left active duty to pursue higher education at Southern Oregon University where he graduated in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in Music Conducting and subsequently began teaching high school and middle school music in Rogue River Oregon.

          In Oct. 2003, he reported for Officer Candidate School at Naval Air Station Pensacola Fl. receiving his commission in January 2004 and designation as a Naval Flight Officer in 2005.

          In June 2006, CDR Hudson reported aboard Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) stationed at NAS Brunswick ME flying the P-3C Orion. While Stationed with the “Fighting Tigers” he deployed twice to the 5th fleet AOR Flying missions from Qatar, Iraq, Djibouti and Oman in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and the Global War on Terrorism awarded the Navy Battle Efficiency Award.

          In June 2009, CDR Hudson reported to VP-30 for duty as an Instructor TACCO in the P-3C and as a member of the Fleet Introduction Team for the P-8A Poseidon. While attached to VP-30 he earned his Weapons and Tactics Instructor qualification and became a trusted agent with the P-8A Integrated Test Team, participating directly with the operational testing phase.

          In December 2013, CDR Hudson reported aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74), home ported in Bremerton WA., as a member of the Air Department serving as Hangar Deck Division Officer, Aircraft Launch and Recovery (ALRE) Division Officer and TOPCAT, Centralized Work Control Team Officer in Charge during a docked planned incremental availability period earning the Navy Unit Commendation.

          In February 2015, CDR Hudson reported to the Pelicans of Patrol Squadron Four Five (VP-45) at NAS Jacksonville FL. For his department head tour serving as the Tactics Officer, Training Officer, Operations Officer, Maintenance Officer, and Red Flag 16-1 OIC (inaugural P-8A participation). VP-45 deployed to the 6th Fleet AOR based out of Sigonella Italy earning the Navy Battle Efficiency Award.

          His follow-on shore tour was with the Naval Research Laboratory where he served as the Deputy Command Information Officer.

          Most recently CDR Hudson was the Director of C7F Commander’s Action Group where he managed a team of creative thinkers tasked with advising Commander Seventh Fleet and driving his warfighter vision to the fleet. CDR Hudson currently serves as the Executive Officer at Purdue University NROTC.

          CDR Hudson has flown over 2000 flight hours in various Naval Aircraft and is a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (Gold Star in lieu of 2nd award), Air Medal (with the numeral 3), Navy Commendation Medal (2 Gold Stars in lieu of 3rd award), the Navy Achievement Medal and the Army Achievement Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters in lieu of 4th award) and other personal, campaign and service ribbons.  

          Lieutenant Jennifer Kwiatek earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry from the College of Saint Benedict in May of 2013 and then attended Tulane University for her Master of Science in Organic Chemistry in May of 2016.  She attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island and commissioned as a Student Naval Aviator in May of 2016.  From there she attended Aviation Preflight Indoctrination in Pensacola, Florida.  Afterwards she moved to Corpus Christi, Texas for Primary Flight Training where she was then selected to be a helicopter pilot.  This brought her to Whiting Field in Milton, Florida for Advanced Flight Training and follow on assignment to HSM-40 in Mayport, Florida to fly MH-60R aircraft. 

          Upon completion of the syllabus at the fleet replenishment squadron, she checked into her first sea squadron with the HSM-70 Spartans out of Jacksonville, Florida in June of 2019.  During her time at HSM-70 she deployed with the Harry S. Truman strike group and flew operations both from the Truman and the USS Normandy in the Gulf of Oman.  Her three years with HSM-70 gave her experience operating from 3 different aircraft carriers, as well as deploying on a cruiser and a destroyer.   

          Lieutenant Kwiatek reported to the Naval ROTC unit at Purdue University in August of 2022 and is currently serving as the units Battalion Officer and Safety Officer. 

 

          Captain Joshua Calderon attended the United States Naval Academy from 2014 – 2018.  He graduated in May 2018, earning a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps and a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science.  He reported to The Basic School in September of 2018, graduating in April 2019 with the 6602 Aviation Supply Officer MOS. 2ndLt Calderon performed on-the-job training at Presidential Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1), then completed MOS school at Naval Air Station Whiting Field.  

          During December 2019, he arrived at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 in Okinawa, Japan, where he served as the Readiness Section OIC and Operations Management Division OIC.  In December 2020, he deployed with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and supported multiple international exercises in the Indo-Pacific area of operations.  Following deployment, Captain Calderon was hand selected to serve as the S-3 Operations Officer of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 in March 2021. In November 2022, Captain Calderon transitioned to the Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36 Supply Department, where he served as the Warehouse Management Division OIC until April 2023. 

          Captain Calderon reported to the Naval ROTC unit at the Purdue University in May 2023 where he currently serves as the Marine Officer Instructor and the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Officer.

                   

          Lieutenant Joseph Wood was born in Fairhope, Alabama. He enlisted in the Navy in 2014 and reported to Auburn University through the Seaman to Admiral-21 program in 2016. In 2019 he earned his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aerospace Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy.

          He reported to Charleston, South Caroline for Nuclear Power School and Prototype from August of 2019 to October of 2020. Lieutenant Wood then completed Submarine Officer Basic course in Groton, Connecticut in December of 2020.

          In February of 2021, Lieutenant Wood reported to the USS ALASKA Gold (SSBN-732), home ported in Kings Bay, Georgia. He served as the Main Propulsion Assistant, Quality Assurance Officer, Assistant Engineer, and Peace Time Safety Officer. During his time onboard, the USS ALASKA crossed the Atlantic Ocean to become the first US Ballistic Missile Submarine to enter the Mediterranean in over 25 years, successfully executed two Operational Reactor Safeguards Examinations, a Tactical Weapons Proficiency and five strategic deterrent patrols. The USS ALASKA was awarded the prestigious Battle “E” and Omaha Trophy during his tenure.

          Lieutenant Wood reported to the Naval ROTC Unit at Purdue University in December of 2023 and is currently serving as the unit’s Bravo Company Officer.