Mike Nicholson

Education and Certifications

Bachelor of Arts, California State University Long Beach
Master of Science, Management and Public Relations, University of Maryland University College
Master of Communication Management, University of Southern California
Master of Military Arts and Science, School of Advanced Military Studies (SAMS)
Master of Science, Science, Technology, and Society (STS), Virginia Tech
PhD Candidate, Science, Technology, and Society (STS), Virginia Tech
APR, Public Relations Society of America

Biography

Mike Nicholson is an experienced communication professional with a broad military background. He began his active-duty service as an Artillery Officer before transitioning to Public Affairs in 2003. Over the next two decades, Mike held several significant roles, including Media Relations Officer at ISAF HQ in Kabul, Afghanistan (2004-2005); Deputy Public Affairs Officer for NATO Training Mission in Baghdad, Iraq (2006-2007); and Strategic Communication Planner at ISAF HQ in Kabul (2012-2013). He also served as a military fellow at USAA in their Enterprise Affairs and Corporate Communications Department in San Antonio, Texas. His military career includes key positions such as Chief of Communication Strategy at the Pentagon, Public Affairs Director for NATO’s Allied Land Command in Izmir, Turkey, US Army South in San Antonio, Texas, and Eighth Army in South Korea. After retiring, Mike pursued a PhD in Science, Technology, and Society at Virginia Tech while working as an Executive Outreach Officer at the Pentagon and as a Communication Strategist for Army Futures Command. He is currently a PhD candidate at Virginia Tech, focusing his dissertation research on search engines and the search engine industry.

Mike’s academic and research interests include digital technologies and public communication strategies, strategic communication management, crisis communication, the evolution of search engines, the history of mass communication, misinformation and disinformation, artificial intelligence, narrative theory, political discourse, and deterrence.