LtCol Nicholson graduated from The Citadel in 2004 and subsequently completed Officer Candidate School, Basic Officer Course, and Infantry Officer Course at Quantico, Virginia.

From 2005 to 2008, LtCol Nicholson served in Second Battalion, Sixth Marines on Camp Lejeune, NC. He deployed to Saqlawiyah, Iraq as a rifle platoon commander and to Fallujah, Iraq as a rifle company executive officer.

LtCol Nicholson relocated to Quantico, Virginia in 2008. He served one year as the recon and special skills officer for Training and Education Command prior to becoming the patrolling package primary and two-time staff platoon commander at The Basic School. He subsequently graduated from resident Expeditionary Warfare School in 2012.

Upon EWS graduation, LtCol Nicholson reported to Second Battalion, Second Marines, where he commanded Company F in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2013. Following deployment, LtCol Nicholson served one year as aide de camp for the commanding general of II Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Africa.

In 2016, he earned a Masters of Military Arts and Science and was a distinguished graduate from the Army's Command and General Staff College in Leavenworth, Kansas.

From 2016-2019, he was assigned as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Recruiting Station, Twin Cities.

Following his tour with Marine Corps Recruiting Command, LtCol Nicholson reported to First Battalion, Third Marines at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. While serving as the battalion executive officer, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program. Following deployment, LtCol Nicholson was reassigned to Camp Smith, where he served one year as the G-33 Current Operations Branch Head for Marine Corps Forces Pacific prior to relocating to Camp Lejeune, NC.

LtCol Nicholson is married to the Brittany Nicholson of Charleston, SC, and they have three children: Riley, Tucker, and Clark.