Major Daniel A. “Slash” Nelson is an Instructor of Military & Strategic Studies at the U.S. Air Force Academy. He teaches Airpower and Joint Operations Strategy for the Academy’s core Military & Strategic Studies course. Prior to joining the faculty at the Academy, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School as an AFIT-sponsored student, earning dual Master of Science degrees in Applied Physics and Space Systems Operations while completing Joint Professional Military Education Phase I through the Naval War College.

Maj Nelson entered the Air Force in May 2012 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy. He completed Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base before flying the KC-10 Extender with the 305th Air Mobility Wing at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. He later transitioned to the U-2 Dragon Lady, serving with the 99th Reconnaissance Squadron as a mission pilot, instructor pilot, mission commander, Chief Executive Officer, CSS Flight Commander, and Director of Staff. During nine operational deployments, he supported operations across all six Geographic Combatant Commands, flying combat air refueling and high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in support of joint and coalition operations. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours, including over 1,000 combat hours as a Senior Pilot and over 300 flight hours conducting Sensitive Reconnaissance Missions.

At the Naval Postgraduate School, Maj Nelson conducted research in remote sensing and space systems, developing optical systems for a terahertz imaging payload designed to detect atmospheric signatures associated with hypersonic activity. His thesis received the Outstanding Thesis Award from the Space Systems Academic Group. The resulting payload is scheduled for proof-of-concept testing aboard the International Space Station in early 2027.

Master of Science, Applied Physics, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (2025)

Master of Science, Space Systems Operations, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (2025)

Joint Professional Military Education Phase I (Naval War College), Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (2024)

Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala. (2018)

Bachelor of Science, History, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (2012)

Assistant Professor of Military & Strategic Studies, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. (October 2025 – Present)

AFIT Master’s Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, Calif. (June 2023 – September 2025)

Director of Staff / U-2 Instructor Pilot, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. (April 2023 – June 2023)

Director of Staff / U-2 Mission Pilot, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. (February 2022 – April 2023)

CSS Flight Commander / U-2 Mission Pilot, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. (August 2021 – February 2022)

Chief Executive Officer / U-2 Mission Pilot, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. (February 2021 – August 2021)

U-2 Student Pilot, 99th Reconnaissance Squadron, Beale AFB, Calif. (April 2019 – February 2021)

Assistant Flight Commander / KC-10 Aircraft Commander, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (April 2018 – April 2019)

Mission Controller / KC-10 Aircraft Commander, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (October 2017 – April 2018)

Training Officer / KC-10 Pilot, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (November 2016 – October 2017)

Resource Manager / KC-10 Pilot, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (August 2015 – November 2016)

KC-10 Student Pilot, 305th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. (July 2014 – August 2015)

Student, Undergraduate Pilot Training, Vance AFB, Okla. (January 2013 – July 2014)

Outstanding Thesis, Space Systems Academic Group, Naval Postgraduate School

Distinguished Graduate, Naval War College (JPME I)

Distinguished Graduate, Squadron Officer School

Meritorious Service Medal

Aerial Achievement Medal (Two Awards)

Air Medal (Six Awards)

Air and Space Commendation Medal