Captain Nelson Sharps graduated from The College of William and Mary with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. After completing the ten week Officer Candidate Course, he commissioned in the United States Marine Corps and completed The Basic School in 2018. He was then assigned to First Combat Engineer Battalion, First Marine Division.
In 2019-2020, Second Lieutenant Sharps served as the Assistant Logistics Officer and then Logistics Officer for First Combat Engineer Battalion. He supported training for all Combat Engineers deploying in support of West Coast Marine Expeditionary Units. From 2020-2021 First Lieutnenant Sharps served as Platoon Commander for First Combat Engineer Battalion’s Motor Transport Platoon, supporting training and multiple Steel Knight Service Level Training Exercises.
First Lieutenant Sharps transferred to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in 2021, where he became a Series Commander with Kilo Company. He served as Series Commander and Executive Officer for eight training cycles with Kilo before being promoted to Captain and moving to India Company to serve as Executive Officer and Company Commander for two additional cycles in 2023. He finished his tour at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego at Receiving Company, having overseen training for thousands of Marines.
Captain Sharps then attended Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico for a period of ten months, after which he was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. In June 2025, Captain Sharps assumed the duties as the Executive Officer of Marine Wing Support Squadron 171.
Personal awards include Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.