Staff Directory
Nelson, George
George Nelson
- Title:
- Senior Associate AD - Sport Supervision (VB, WP, HKY, S/D, Gym, BSB, Golf, Track/XC, WR)
- Email:
- Phone:
- 719-333-2798
George Nelson has served in the Air Force Academy athletic department since Jun 2005. He is a member of the athletic department senior staff and directly responsible for day-to-day leadership of 10 NCAA Division I athletic programs to include nearly 280 student athletes and 30 coaches.
He is the decision maker on coaching contracts, program priorities, facility utilization, competition contracts/schedules, budget and revenue generating activities. Nelson works directly with seven different Division I conferences and NCAA regions to ensure our teams are given the best opportunities to compete at the Division I level. He secures funding from multiple sources and oversees implementation of budgets to meet athletic mission requirements for recruiting, team travel, equipment, personnel, facility upkeep and improvements. Nelson oversees facility utilization and upgrade requirements for his teams, to include renovation and construction planning for $1 million square feet of indoor space and 150 acres of athletic fields to support NCAA competitions and practices. He is the approval authority for the Falcon Athletic Fund disbursements and team fundraising activities. He works directly with development teams to identify donors and connect them with athletic programs to fund requirements outside the normal budget process.
During his time in the department, programs under his leadership have flourished with seven national team championships, 25 individual national champions, 180 All- Americans, 26 national and conference coach of the year awards, two NCAA Sportsmanship Awards, 251 academic All-Americans and 26 conference championships over the past 10 years. Nelson was a member of the 2010 NCAA Certification team for the department’s diversity plan, receiving top ratings from the NCAA as a blueprint for other universities to follow. He serves as an athletic department spokesperson and representative to other Academy mission areas, local community groups, the NCAA, alumni, donors and parent groups across the country, as well as international visitors and dignitaries. He serves on local school district accountability committees and has forged strong working relationships with the Colorado Springs community to include the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, and various civic leaders.
He has held numerous leadership positions on conference and NCAA committees. He is currently the chair of the NCAA Men’s Water Polo committee, chair of the MPSF executive committee, a member of the NCAA men’s hockey rules committee, chair, Atlantic Hockey Association executive committee as well as a former NCAA fencing committee member.
He filled duties of the deputy athletic director and the department head of physical education from January of 2011-14 with oversight of 23 athletic programs and is the only civilian to ever serve in this position.
A graduate of the Academy, Nelson was a four-year letter winner and swimming team captain for the Falcons where he specialized in long distance and the individual medley. He was a top cadet in physical fitness as a member of the 1000 club. His Air Force leadership career spanned across several highly visible programs such as the B-2 Bomber, the F-22, and F-35 Fighter Aircraft. He was awarded the contract management division program manager of the year three times, officer of the year twice, and the “DoD’s Best in Air Force Program Management” in 1998. In 1993 he was nominated for the Air Force’s Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award and was awarded the Malham M. Wakin Character Leadership Award in 2003.
The past 17 years he has served or is currently serving in a variety of leadership capacities in the Athletic Department to include Director of Athletic Liaison (Dean of Students), Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Champs/Life Skills, Air Force Academy admissions panel, Academic Review Committee (ARC), Sexual Assault Response Committee (SARC), Crisis Action Team (CAT), the Faculty Council and USAF Academy Curriculum Committee.
Nelson holds a bachelor degree in operations research management and master’s in business management from Troy University. He also holds an academic appointment of assistant professor of athletics management (2002).
Nelson and his wife, Sherri, have four children, Laura, Christopher, Sarah and Mary Kate.
He is the decision maker on coaching contracts, program priorities, facility utilization, competition contracts/schedules, budget and revenue generating activities. Nelson works directly with seven different Division I conferences and NCAA regions to ensure our teams are given the best opportunities to compete at the Division I level. He secures funding from multiple sources and oversees implementation of budgets to meet athletic mission requirements for recruiting, team travel, equipment, personnel, facility upkeep and improvements. Nelson oversees facility utilization and upgrade requirements for his teams, to include renovation and construction planning for $1 million square feet of indoor space and 150 acres of athletic fields to support NCAA competitions and practices. He is the approval authority for the Falcon Athletic Fund disbursements and team fundraising activities. He works directly with development teams to identify donors and connect them with athletic programs to fund requirements outside the normal budget process.
During his time in the department, programs under his leadership have flourished with seven national team championships, 25 individual national champions, 180 All- Americans, 26 national and conference coach of the year awards, two NCAA Sportsmanship Awards, 251 academic All-Americans and 26 conference championships over the past 10 years. Nelson was a member of the 2010 NCAA Certification team for the department’s diversity plan, receiving top ratings from the NCAA as a blueprint for other universities to follow. He serves as an athletic department spokesperson and representative to other Academy mission areas, local community groups, the NCAA, alumni, donors and parent groups across the country, as well as international visitors and dignitaries. He serves on local school district accountability committees and has forged strong working relationships with the Colorado Springs community to include the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs Sports Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, and various civic leaders.
He has held numerous leadership positions on conference and NCAA committees. He is currently the chair of the NCAA Men’s Water Polo committee, chair of the MPSF executive committee, a member of the NCAA men’s hockey rules committee, chair, Atlantic Hockey Association executive committee as well as a former NCAA fencing committee member.
He filled duties of the deputy athletic director and the department head of physical education from January of 2011-14 with oversight of 23 athletic programs and is the only civilian to ever serve in this position.
A graduate of the Academy, Nelson was a four-year letter winner and swimming team captain for the Falcons where he specialized in long distance and the individual medley. He was a top cadet in physical fitness as a member of the 1000 club. His Air Force leadership career spanned across several highly visible programs such as the B-2 Bomber, the F-22, and F-35 Fighter Aircraft. He was awarded the contract management division program manager of the year three times, officer of the year twice, and the “DoD’s Best in Air Force Program Management” in 1998. In 1993 he was nominated for the Air Force’s Lance P. Sijan Leadership Award and was awarded the Malham M. Wakin Character Leadership Award in 2003.
The past 17 years he has served or is currently serving in a variety of leadership capacities in the Athletic Department to include Director of Athletic Liaison (Dean of Students), Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Champs/Life Skills, Air Force Academy admissions panel, Academic Review Committee (ARC), Sexual Assault Response Committee (SARC), Crisis Action Team (CAT), the Faculty Council and USAF Academy Curriculum Committee.
Nelson holds a bachelor degree in operations research management and master’s in business management from Troy University. He also holds an academic appointment of assistant professor of athletics management (2002).
Nelson and his wife, Sherri, have four children, Laura, Christopher, Sarah and Mary Kate.
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Falcons draw 1-1 against South Dakota Mines
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Troy Calhoun and Players POST USU 2025
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