Colonel Don A. Nestor Jr. received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Engineers in 1996.

Upon completion of the Engineer Officer Basic Course, he served in the 9^th Engineer Battalion, 1^st Infantry Division, in Schweinfurt, Germany, as a Line Platoon Leader, Battalion Maintenance Officer/ Shop Officer, and Executive Officer (XO) and deployed to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian.  After attending the Engineer Captains’ Career Course and receiving a Master’s Degree in Engineering Management from the University of Missouri at Rolla, he served with the 4^th Engineer Battalion, 3^rd Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, as a Battalion Logistics Officer, Battalion Assistant Operations Officer, and Charlie Company Commander from 2001-2004.  During the four years he served in the 4^th Engineer Battalion, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (I-II) conducting continuous combat operations in the vicinity of Kirkuk, Iraq.

From 2005-2007, Colonel Nestor served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Los Angeles District as both an Area Commander and leader of the Commander’s Initiatives Group.  During his assignment with the Los Angeles District, COL Nestor deployed with the Afghanistan Engineer District (2005) as a project engineer overseeing the construction of an Afghan National Army Camp in Mazar-e-Sharif.

Colonel Nestor attended both the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) and School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS) at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, from 2007-2009 where he earned a Master’s Degree in Military Arts and Sciences.  Following ILE and SAMS, he was assigned to Fort Carson, Colorado (2009-2012), where he served as the 4^th Infantry Division Engineer Planner prior to his assignment to the 1^st Brigade Combat Team, 4^th Infantry Division.  COL Nestor served as the Executive Officer for both the 1^st Special Troops Battalion and 1^st Brigade Combat Team and deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, conducting full spectrum operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Colonel Nestor served with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Tulsa District as the Deputy District Commander (2012-2014) immediately prior to taking command of the 8^th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2^nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1^st Cavalry Division.  He commanded the 8^th Brigade Engineer Battalion (June 2014 – May 2016) and deployed the battalion to the Republic of Korea in the vicinity of Camp Casey/Hovey as part of the first 9-month rotational Brigade Combat Team supporting the 2^nd Infantry Division. 

Following battalion command, COL Nestor was assigned to U.S. Africa Command as the Engineer Branch Chief (2016 – 2018) and Set the Theater Line of Effort Integrator (2018-2020).  Following U.S. Africa Command COL Nestor was assigned to U.S. Forces Japan (August 2020 – July 2022) as the Command Engineer.  COL Nestor is currently assigned as the Deputy J4 and Command Engineer for North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Northern Command (August 2022 – present).

His awards and decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (x2), Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Bronze Star Medal (x3), Meritorious Service Medal (x5), the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (x2), the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, the Afghanistan Campaign, Korean Defense Service and NATO Medals, and both the Ranger and Parachutist Badges.