Colonel Nugent is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a 1992 graduate of the Pennsylvania State University. He is currently serving as the Chief of Staff for the 1st Marine Division.
Company grade assignments include service with the 1st Marine Division as a rifle platoon and weapons platoon commander, rifle company executive officer, rifle company commander, weapons company commander and Regimental Assistant Operations Officer. Additionally, Colonel Nugent served as a platoon commander and executive officer for Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) Company.
Field grade assignments include Operations Officer, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines; faculty advisor and instructor at the Expeditionary Warfare School; Operations Officer, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit; Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; contingency and future plans branch chief, and deputy strategy division, United States Africa Command; Commanding Officer, Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Officer in Charge of Task Force Al Asad; and Officer in Charge U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command Coordination Element—Bahrain.