Kelli Nichols

Kelli enlisted into the United States Army in April of 2010.  She later earned Congressional Commission as a 2nd Lieutenant by completion of Officer Candidate School via 154th Regimental Training Institute in 2012.  During this time, Kelli served the State of Mississippi as a public-school educator and coach.  Although Kelli dedicated her life to educating Mississippi youth, she yearned for larger service to the Nation.  October 2015, Kelli entered full-time service to the Mississippi Army National Guard (MSARNG), where she serves as the Logistics Management Officer overseeing current and future operations in support of MSARNG units.

Kelli is a Major assigned to the Special Operations Detachment-South where she serves as the Property and Logistics Officer.  In her most recent deployment, Operation Inherent Resolve, Kelli served as the Logistics Director, Iraq in support of the Special Operations Advisory Group.  Kelli has participated in numerous Joint Training exercises with US partner forces in South America where she acts as mentor and coach to partner force logistics officers.

Kelli highest military decoration and awards are: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Iraq Campaign metal with bronze star, Army Commendation Medal (3), Army Achievement Medal (3), Humanitarian Service Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Mississippi Magnolia Cross, and the Mississippi Commendation Medal.  Kelli is a Joint Qualified Commissioned Officer, meaning she has served a minimum of 12 months conducting Joint Operations with international coalition and partner forces.

Although Kelli recently became a member of 5th Squad, she has been an active participant in the activities which support MS Combat Veterans since the inception of 5th Squad.  Kelli loves the life-long relationships established through the work of 5th Squad.  More importantly, she thrives on spreading the word about 5th Squad and our mission to assist Mississippi veterans.

Kelli has an amazing and quite talented daughter, Karley.  Kelli has an awesome dog named Pete (no relation to First IV, Peter Griffin), and two cats Etta James and Bonnie Raitt.  Kelli serves two additional non-profits: Mississippi Misfits 1941 Jeep Club and Mississippi’s Toughest Kids Foundation, Camp Kamassa project. She spends her “free-time” doing stupid stuff on her small farm in Rankin County.