Derick Nickless

Captain Derick Nickless

Recruiting Officer

BIOGRAPHY

CAPTAIN DERICK A. “SANTA” NICKLESS

Captain Derick Nickless is Assistant Professor of Aerospace Studies & Recruiting Officer at Detachment 895, Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC), Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington. He is responsible for teaching junior and senior level undergraduate courses to future second lieutenants in the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, as well as assisting future cadets join the AFROTC program.

Capt Nickless first enlisted in 2006 and achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant prior to transitioning from a Surgical Technologist to an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. In 2016, he graduated from the University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi, Maryland, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Social Science, Summa Cum Laude. He received his commission from Officer Training School in 2017, and was then stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. Here, Capt Nickless gained experience in F-16 back shops, MQ-9 flightline production, and g-series orders as Detachment Commander for F-16, F-15, and A-10 field training pipelines in a geographically separated unit. Additionally, he deployed in-garrison in support of Operation ALLIES REFUGE & ALLIES WELCOME, where he aided in the relocation of over 4,500 allies as Director of Operations, Peace & Hope Village.

Capt Nickless has a variety of deployments from 2010-2023 and has a breadth of experience ranging from life-saving trauma surgery assistance, humanitarian relief, and Agile Combat Employment concept testing. Prior to his current position, the Captain was the Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 366th Maintenance Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

EDUCATION
2009 Associate of Applied Sciences, Surgical Technology, Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2010 Airman Leadership School, Travis AFB, Calif.
2016 Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Maxwell AFB, Ala., by correspondence
2016 Bachelor of Science, Social Science, University of Maryland Global Campus, Adelphi, Md.
2017 Total Force Officer Training, Officer Training School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2018 Aircraft Maintenance Officer Course, Air Force Logistics Officer School, Sheppard AFB, Texas
2021 Master of Arts, Transportation & Logistics Management, American Military University, Charles Town, W.Va.
2022 Squadron Officer School, in-residence, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
2023 Professional Maintenance Certificate Level 3, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
2024 Maintenance Officer Intermediate Course, Air Force Logistics Officer School, Sheppard AFB, Texas

ASSIGNMENTS
1.  November 2017 – June 2018, Section Commander, 54th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman Air Force Base, N.M
2.  June 2018 – December 2018, Flight Commander, Armament, 54th Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
3.  December 2018 – June 2019, Assistant Officer in Charge, Accessories Flight, 49th Component Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
4.  June 2019 – June 2020, Assistant Officer in Charge, 29th Aircraft Maintenance Unit, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M.
5.  June 2020 – July 2022, Detachment Commander, Mountain West Region, 372d Training Squadron, Holloman AFB, N.M. (August 2020 – January 2021, Afghan Village Director of Operations, 487th Expeditionary Mission Support Group, Holloman AFB, N.M.)
6.  August 2022 – September 2022, Student, Squadron Officer School, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
7.  September 2022 – November 2023, Flight Commander, Sortie Generation, 391st Fighter Generation Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho (April 2023 – October 2023, Sortie Generation Flight Commander, 18th Maintenance Group, Kadena AB, Japan)
8.  November 2023 – September 2024, Director of Operations, 366th Maintenance Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
9.  September 2024 – June 2025, Assistant Director of Operations, 389th Fighter Generation Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
10.  July 2025 – August 2025, Maintenance Operations Flight Commander, 366th Maintenance Group, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
11.  September 2025 – Present, Instructor & Recruiting Officer, Detachment 895, AFROTC, Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Wash.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS
Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters
2019 National Public Service Award Nominee, 49th Wing
2021 Company Grade Officer of the Year, 82d Training Wing

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS
2020 Detachment Commander of the Quarter, 3Q20, 982d Training Group
2021 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 2Q21, 82d Training Wing
2023 Maintenance Professional of the Quarter, 1Q23, 366th Maintenance Group
2023 Lt Gen Leo Marquez Maintenance Professional of the Year, 391st Fighter Generation Squadron
2024 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 2Q24, 366th Maintenance Squadron
2024 Lt Gen Leo Marquez Maintenance Professional of the Year, 389th Fighter Generation Squadron
2025 Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, 1Q25, 366th Maintenance Group

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS AND ASSOCIATIONS
2019 Treasurer, Holloman Company Grade Officer Council
2021 Vice President, Logistics Officer Association-Holloman Chapter
2021 Vice President, Holloman Company Grade Officer Council
2024 Beast Games contestant #969
2024 – Present, President & CEO, SANTA’s Legacy Foundation (501c3 EID: 99-4475573)

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION
Second Lieutenant November 9, 2017
First Lieutenant November 9, 2019
Captain November 9, 2021

(Current as of October 2025)