Director, Military and Veterans Program
- BA, History, University of San Diego '08
- MA, History, University of San Diego '12
Nelson Chase is the Military and Veterans Program (MVP) Director at the University of San Diego. Mr. Chase began his higher education career in 2012, working in the Office of Financial Aid. He moved to work in the Veterans Program in 2017 and became the program's director in Fall 2021. The MVP serves as the hub for all military-connected students on campus. Additionally, Mr. Chase oversees existing and new initiatives, student engagement opportunities, and supportive services for the diverse military-connected student population. These efforts aim to enable students to progress toward and achieve their educational objectives. Mr. Chase serves on several university committees around student success and recently worked alongside university leadership to redesign how the University provides non-academic advising to students. A practicing Catholic, Mr. Chase is committed to USDs mission and vision as an engaged, contemporary Catholic university.
The son of a Marine and grandson of a Navy Veteran, Mr. Chase enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in the Spring of 2001. He completed Basic Combat and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. His Military Occupation Speciality was 56M, Chaplain Assistant. In the winter of 2003, the Army called him to active duty to support the Global War on Terrorism, later Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Chase was deployed to Kuwait, Iraq, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, serving as the base Chaplain Assistant at the forward operating base, Camp Wolf, and in Saudi Arabia at Riyad's Eskan Village. He earned the Joint Service Commendation, Army Commendation, Army Reserve Medal, Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Ribbon, and Army Service Ribbon.
Mr. Chase holds a bachelor's and master's degree in History from the University of San Diego and is a proud second-generation USD Alumni.
A lifelong San Diegan, Mr. Chase has volunteered with local and national orginzations throughout his career, including the Travis Manion Foundation.
Nelson's favorite spot on campus is Founders Chapel.