John Nimmons ‘06: History, Business, and the U.S. Army

John Nimmons ‘06: History, Business, and the U.S. Army

MAJ John Nimmons pictured with his wife, Shannon (’06), and their two daughters, Natalie and Caitlin.

MAJ John Nimmons pictured with his wife, Shannon (’06), and their two daughters, Natalie and Caitlin.

John, nicknamed the Colonel while a major in the History Department held offices with Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity, was a member of the Interfraternity Council, and was the Highlander ROTC Battalion Cadet Executive Officer.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO MAJOR IN HISTORY AT PC?

During my early studies, I realized history was the common thread that tied multiple subjects together. When I arrived at PC, the History Department impressed me with the wide array of topics students could choose for areas of emphasis and study. The careful instruction of motivated and invested professors provided amazing levels of depth and breadth to each class. I chose history because I wanted to capitalize on their vast amount of knowledge in order to gain a firm foundation that I felt would lead to future success regardless of the career path I chose.

WHAT HAVE YOU DONE SINCE GRADUATING FROM PC?

After graduation, I commissioned as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. I had two combat deployments to Iraq where I led troops at the Platoon and Company level. I went on to work in Germany where I led a planning team that designed operations to help NATO and EUCOM deter regional adversaries and achieve theater-specific strategic goals. In between this hectic schedule, I also obtained a Master in Business Administration with a Project Management Specialization from Norwich University.

HOW DID YOUR HISTORY MAJOR PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR CURRENT CAREER PATH?

History has helped me in every facet of my career. Whether I needed to find common ground with the Iraqi Army and government officials or leverage historical context in developing plans with NATO partners, my studies at PC have paid dividends throughout my career. The foundations I gained in writing and research methods also set me above my peers as writing is a daily requirement in my job. I am absolutely convinced that the cornerstone to a successful career begins with the education provided by PC and the History Department.

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