Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Culver, USMC, commissioned upon graduation from college and completed The Basic School before reporting to Naval Air Station Pensacola in March 2008 for Aviation Preflight Indoctrination, Primary Flight Training, and Advanced Helicopter Flight Training.
As a First Lieutenant, he completed Advanced Helicopter Flight Training in September 2009 and reported to Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164 (HMMT-164), Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, for CH-46E Replacement Pilot Training. Upon qualification as a CH-46E copilot, he reported to HMM-364, serving as the Adjutant and Legal Officer.
As a Captain with HMM-364, he completed Expeditionary Warfare School (Distance Education Program) and qualified as a CH-46E Aircraft Commander, Section Leader, Functional Check Pilot, and Basic Instructor. He served as the Phase Officer-in-Charge, Flight Equipment Officer-in-Charge, Flight Duty Officer, and Current Operations Officer. In 2013, he transitioned to the KC-130J and reported to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 (VMGR-352) in San Diego, CA, where he served as the NATOPS Officer, Powerline Officer-in-Charge, Future Operations Officer, and Detachment Assistant Operations Officer. He later transferred to VMGR-252 aboard MCAS Cherry Point, NC, and attended Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI) Course 17.2. While assigned to VMGR-252, he served as the Pilot Training Officer, Aircrew Training Officer, and Current Operations Officer.
As a Major, he served as VMGR-252’s Assistant Operations Officer before transferring to the KC-130J Fleet Replacement Detachment. There, he completed the Aviation Safety Officer’s Course and served as the KC-130J Fleet NATOPS Evaluator, Fleet Replacement Instructor, Administrative Officer, Aviation Safety Officer, and Safety and Standardization Officer. In June 2019, he was selected to attend Intermediate Level School at the Canadian Forces College in Toronto, Ontario, and earned a Master of Defence Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada. Following ILS, he reported to VMGR-152 aboard MCAS Iwakuni, Japan, serving as the Assistant Operations Officer, Operations Officer, and Executive Officer through May 2022. He then transferred to Headquarters Marine Corps, DC Aviation, where he served as the Fixed-Wing Assault Support Planner.
As a Lieutenant Colonel, he was selected for command of VMGR-252. He commanded the squadron from 2023 to 2025, then served as the Operations Officer at Marine Aircraft Group 14 prior to attending the Eisenhower School. He is currently serving a joint tour in support of Capstone at the National Defense University.
LtCol Culver’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal; Air Medal with Strike/Flight Numeral 3; Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four awards); and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).
He and his wife, Jenifer, have two children, Camden (13) and Cohen (11).