Captain Donald A. Nisbett, Jr.
United States Navy
Captain Donald A. Nisbett, Jr., a native of Laurinburg, NC, is a 1990 graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He was commissioned through Aviation Officer Candidate School in November 1990 at Pensacola, FL, and designated a Naval Aviator on October 1992 at NAS Meridian, MS. Nisbett is a 2005 graduate of the Naval War College in Newport, RI with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies, and completed JPME Phase II at the Joint Forces Staff College in 2006.
Nisbett’s operational assignments include tours with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87 Golden Warriors from 1994-1997 embarked in USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67); Carrier Air Wing 3 from 2000-2002 embarked in USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); VFA-131 Wildcats from 2002-2004 embarked in USS George Washington (CVN 73); and Executive Officer of VFA-143 Pukin’ Dogs in 2007 embarked in USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). His six deployments supported Operations DENY FLIGHT, DELIBERATE FORCE, DELIBERATE GUARD, SOUTHERN WATCH, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM, and Maritime Security Operations off the coast of Somalia. He has flown over 3,900 flight hours primarily in the F/A-18C Hornet and E/F Super Hornet strike fighter aircraft, and the T-45 Goshawk; and has amassed over 870 carrier-arrested landings. Nisbett commanded VFA-32 Swordsmen from 2007-2009 embarked in USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75).
Ashore, Nisbett served as an Instructor Pilot in VFA-106 from 1997-2000 where he received the Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic Instructor Pilot of the Year award for 1999. After command, he worked at NATO’s Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation from 2009-2012, serving as a Staff Officer and Special Assistant to the Commander in the Commander’s Action Group, and in the ISR Capabilities Division of OPNAV N2/N6 from 2012-2013. He commanded Training Air Wing TWO from 2013-2015 and the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps Unit (NROTC) at Oregon State University from 2015-2017 before reporting to Naval Service Training Command serving as the Director of Officer Development and the Deputy Commander for NROTC Operations from 2017-2020. He is currently assigned as the first Commanding Officer at the NROTC unit at the University of Hawaii, Manoa.
Nisbett’s personal decorations include three Legion of Merit Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal (five Strike Flight), three Navy Commendation Medals (with Combat “V”) and three Navy Achievement Medals, as well as other personal, campaign and service ribbons.