Gist

COL Nicholas Gist

Director, DPE

nicholas.gist@westpoint.edu

Biography

Colonel Nick Gist is a native of Alpine, CA. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Aviation upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1994 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences. Since that time, he has been privileged to serve in command and staff assignments around the world, including Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan. As a company grade officer and following completion of flight school at Fort Rucker, AL, COL Gist served as Assistant Airfield Operations Officer, Platoon Leader, and Airfield/Detachment Operations Officer at Polk Army Airfield, Fort Polk, LA. He then served as Assistant Battalion Operations Officer for the 2nd Battalion, 52nd Aviation Regiment, 17th Aviation Brigade, forward deployed in the Republic of Korea. While in Korea, he commanded Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 2-52nd Aviation Regiment. Upon returning to CONUS, he served as Recruiting Programs Officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, VA. After earning a M.Ed. in Exercise Science from the University of Georgia, COL Gist was assigned to the faculty at the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, where he served as an Instructor in the Department of Physical Education. He taught courses in applied gymnastics, boxing, strength development, personal/organizational fitness, golf, and alpine skiing. Following completion of Intermediate Level Education at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, KS, COL Gist was again forward deployed to the Republic of Korea. He served in consecutive assignments as Executive Officer for the 602nd Aviation Support Battalion and 3-2nd Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division. His next assignment was as Deputy Chief, Stability Support Transition Team, in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn in Ninewa Province, Iraq, as a member of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division. Upon his return from Iraq, COL Gist completed graduate studies and earned a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology at the University of Georgia. In his second tour in the Department of Physical Education, he served as Director of Program Support before being selected as an Academy Professor and serving as the department’s Deputy Director. In the summer of 2014, he completed a short combat tour in Regional Command-South as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. On April 17th, 2015, he assumed his current responsibilities as Professor, USMA, and Head, Department of Physical Education. From May 2016 to May 2017, COL Gist deployed to Afghanistan with 1st Cavalry Division as the Commanding General’s Chief of the Commander’s Action Group. He continues to serve as the Master of the Sword at West Point. His military education includes the Aviation Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, Initial Entry Rotary Wing Flight School, Combined Arms Services Staff School, Master Fitness Trainer Course, CH-47 Aircraft Qualification Course, and Intermediate Level Education (Command and General Staff College). COL Gist’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Commendation Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal (with Oak Leaf Cluster), NATO Medal (ISAF clasp) and the Army Aviation Association of America Order of Saint Michael (Bronze). He is a Senior Army Aviator and has earned the Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge. He is married to the former Dea Marie Newman and has two children, Maddie and Graham.

Ongoing Research Projects

High Intensity Interval Training

Publications & Presentations

Publications & Presentations

Bedard, A.J., Bigelman, K.A., Fielitz, L.R., Coelho, J.C., Kobbe, W.B., Barone, R.O., Gist, N.H., & Palmer, J.E.  (2018).  Gender integration in collegiate combative physical education classes.  Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, 26(2), 134-144.  doi: 10.1123/wspaj.2018-0003

Monroe, D.C., Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., O’Connor P.J., McCully, K.K., & Dishman, R.K.  (2016).  Effects of sprint interval cycling on fatigue, energy, and cerebral oxygenation.  Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 48(4), 615-624.  doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000809

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., Ryan, T.E., & Cureton, K.J.  (2015).  Effects of low-volume, high-intensity whole-body calisthenics on Army ROTC cadets.  Military Medicine, 180(5), 492-498.  doi: 10.7205/milmed-d-14-00277

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., Acitelli, R.M., McConnell W.J., Beck, C.D., Cureton, K.J., & Evans, E.M.  (2015).  Acute and chronic effects of sprint interval exercise on postprandial lipemia in women at-risk for the metabolic syndrome.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 118(7), 872-879.  doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00380.2014

Freese, E.C., Acitelli, R.M., Gist, N.H., Cureton, K.J., Evans, E.M., & O’Connor, P.J.  (2014).  Effects of six weeks of sprint interval training on mood and perceived health in women at risk for metabolic syndrome.  Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 36(6), 610-618.  doi: 10.1123/jsep.2014-0083 

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014).  Comparison of responses to two high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols.  The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(11), 3033-3040.  doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000522

Fedewa, M.W., Gist, N.H., Evans, E.M., & Dishman, R.K.  (2014).  Exercise and insulin resistance in youth: A meta-analysis.  Pediatrics, 133(1), e163-e174.  doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2718

Freese E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014).  Effect of prior exercise on postprandial lipemia:  An updated quantitative review.  Journal of Applied Physiology, 116(1), 67-75.    10.​1152/​japplphysiol.​00623.​2013  

Gist, N.H., Fedewa, M.W., Dishman, R.K., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014).  Sprint interval training effects on aerobic capacity:  A systematic review and meta-analysis.  Sports Medicine, 44(2), 269-279. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0115-0

Freese E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2013).  Physiological responses to an acute bout of sprint interval cycling.  The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 27(10), 2768-2773.  doi: 10.1519/jsc.0b013e318281575c  

Gist, N.H.  (2013).  Responses and Adaptations to Acute and Chronic High-intensity Interval Training (Doctoral dissertation, University of Georgia).

Refereed Presentations

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., Acitelli, R.M., McConnell W.J., Beck, C.D., Hausman, D.B., Murrow, J.R., Cureton, K.J., & Evans, E.M. (2015, March).  Acute and Chronic Effects of Sprint Interval Training on Postprandial Lipemia in Women At-Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.  Poster session presented at Experimental Biology 2015, Boston, MA.  

Gist, N.H. & Freese, E.C.  (2014, November).  Effects of Low-volume, High-intensity Exercise on Self-rated Feelings of Energy and Fatigue.  Oral presentation and poster session presented at the Greater New York Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (GNYRC ACSM), New York, NY.

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., Ryan, T.E., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014, May).  Physiological and Performance Effects of Low-Volume, High-Intensity Whole-Body Calisthenics on Army ROTC Cadets.  Poster session presented at 61st Annual Meeting and 5th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Orlando, FL.

Freese, E.C., Acitelli, R.M., Gist, N.H., Loy, B.D., O’Connor, P.J., Cureton, K.J., & Evans, E.M.  (2014, May).  Effects of sprint interval training and a high-protein diet on symptoms of energy and fatigue.  Poster session presented at 61st Annual Meeting and 5th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Orlando, FL.  

Monroe, D.C., Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., O’Connor, P.J., McCully, K.K., & Dishman, R.K.  (2014, May).  The Effect of a Single Bout of Sprint Interval Cycling on Subjective Fatigue and Cerebral Oxygenation.   Slide session presented at 61st Annual Meeting and 5th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Orlando, FL.

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014, April).  Effect of Prior Exercise on Postprandial Lipemia: An Updated Quantitative Review.  Poster session presented at Experimental Biology 2014, San Diego, CA.

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., & Cureton, K.J.  (2013, May).  Comparison of responses to two high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols.  Poster session presented at the 60th Annual Meeting and 4th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, Indianapolis, IN.

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., Trilk, J.L., & Cureton, K.J.  (2013, February).  Sprint interval training:  A viable alternative to improve health and fitness.  Symposium conducted at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the Southeast Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine, Greenville, SC.

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2012, May).  Physiological responses to an acute bout of sprint interval cycling.  Poster session presented at the 59th Annual Meeting and 3rd World Congress on Exercise is Medicine, American College of Sports Medicine, San Francisco, CA.

Gist, N.H.  (2004, October).  Overcoming fear:  Strategies for increasing student self-efficacy.  Presentation at the 67th Annual Conference, New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, Buffalo, NY.

Published Abstracts

Borman, J.R., Hotaling, B.R., Bigelman, K.A., Jaffe, D.A., Westrick, R.B., Germain, J.L. & Gist, N.H. (2019).  Effects of high-intensity interval training on fitness during initial military training.  Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 51(5).

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., Acitelli, R.M., McConnell W.J., Beck, C.D., Hausman, D.B., Murrow, J.R., Cureton, K.J., & Evans, E.M. (2015).  Acute and Chronic Effects of Sprint Interval Training on Postprandial Lipemia in Women At-Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.  Submitted for publication.

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., Ryan, T.E., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014).  Physiological and performance effects of low-volume, high-intensity whole-body calisthenics on Army ROTC cadets.  Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(5).

Freese, E.C., Acitelli, R.M., Gist, N.H., Loy, B.D., O’Connor, P.J., Cureton, K.J., & Evans, E.M.  (2014).  Effect of sprint interval training and a high-protein diet on symptoms of energy and fatigue.  Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(5).

Monroe, D.C., Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., O’Connor, P.J., McCully, K.K., & Dishman, R.K.  (2014).  The Effect of a Single Bout of Sprint Interval Cycling on Subjective Fatigue and Cerebral Oxygenation.   Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 46(5).

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2014).  Effect of prior exercise on postprandial lipemia:  An updated quantitative review.  FASEB J, 28(705.14).

Gist, N.H., Freese, E.C., & Cureton, K.J.  (2013).  Comparison of responses to two high-intensity intermittent exercise protocols.  Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 45(5).

Freese, E.C., Gist, N.H., & Cureton, K.J.  (2012).  Physiological responses to an acute bout of sprint interval cycling.  Supplement to Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 44(5).