Biography
Commanding Officer, 5th Battalion, 11th Marines
Lieutenant Colonel Nickolas D. Whitefield

Lieutenant Colonel Whitefield was born on 11 October 1980 in 29 Palms, CA.  He attended Texas A&M University from 2000-2004.  Upon graduation, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Science and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps.  Following commissioning, he attended TBS and was assigned the 0802 Artillery MOS.

Following The Basic School, he attended the Field Artillery Officer Basic in 2005 and was assigned to Kilo Battery, 3d Battalion, 11th Marines at 29 Palms, CA in June 2005.  During this tour, he served as the Guns Platoon Commander, HQ Platoon Commander, and Fire Direction Officer and deployed as part of the UDP to Okinawa, Japan from February-August 2006.  In 2007, he deployed to Al Qa’im, Iraq with MTT 0730 attached to 1st Bn, 4th Marines, and conducted Ground Advisor Training missions with the Iraqi Army’s 3/7 BDE.  Upon return from this deployment, he served as the Assistant Fire Support Coordinator for 3/11.

In March 2008, he executed orders to The Basic School in Quantico.  He served as the primary Fire Support Instructor, Staff Platoon Commander (SPC) for India Company, WOBC 1-09, and as SPC for Fox Company BOC 6-10.  From March 2010 to May 2011, he served as the Battery Commander for the TBS Artillery Instructor Battery.

In July 2011, he attended the Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, VA and then received orders to 3d Battalion, 10th Marines.  He commanded Fox Battery from May 2012 – June 2013.  He deployed to Afghanistan as the ANSF Fires Officer in support of OEF 13.2 and 14.1 from July 2013 to February 2014.  After returning from Afghanistan, he assumed duties as the Battalion Operations Officer for 2d Battalion, 10th Marines until his PCS in July 2015.  During the same period, he earned a Master of Arts degree in Leadership from Marshall University.

In July of 2015, he attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College where he earned a Master of Military Studies degree.  Upon completion of Command and Staff College in June of 2016, he reported to Expeditionary Warfare School where he served as a Faculty Advisor (FACAD) for AY’17.  After a year as a FACAD, he assumed the duties as the Curriculum Development Officer for Doctrine and Planning until June 2018. 

In July of 2018, he checked into Special Operations Command – North (SOCNORTH) and assumed the duties as a Future Operations Planner.  In January 2019, he attended Joint PME II.  He returned to SOCNORTH and continued to serve as a FUOPS planner until December 2019 when he deployed to Mexico City (CDMX), MX as the Special Operations Command-Forward (SOC-FWD) Commander.  He returned from CDMX in April of 2020 and assumed the duties as the Theater Security Cooperation Division Chief.      

Lieutenant Colonel Whitefield’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star), the Joint Superior Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two gold stars).

 
1st Marine Division