MAJ Ross S. Nikides

MAJ Ross S. Nikides is an instructor and assistant course director for MX400 Officership – the superintendent’s capstone course - at the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. 

A native of Carol Stream, Illinois, he currently serves as an Army strategist. He holds a master’s degree in international affairs from Texas A&M University’s Bush School of Government and Public Service. 

From 2010 to 2014, MAJ Nikides attended Hofstra University, where, as a member of the university’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), he received his commission as a military intelligence officer and graduated summa cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in political science, global studies, and history with honors. He graduated as a Distinguished Military Graduate.

Following graduation, he served as a platoon coach and mentor for the ROTC Leadership Training Course (LTC) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, helping prepare junior cadets for their entry into service. He then attended the Military Intelligence Basic Officer Leaders Course (MIBOLC) in the summer and fall of 2014. His first assignment was at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, with the 1-229 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, serving as the assistant S-2.

With the 1-229, MAJ Nikides supported Talisman Sabre 15 in Brisbane, Australia, as I Corps’ personnel recovery officer and NTC 16-04 as the task force S-2. He then transferred to Bravo Company, 109th Expeditionary Military Intelligence Battalion, where he served as a multifunctional platoon leader (2016-2017), company executive officer (2017-2018), and assistant S-3 (2018). While in Bravo Company, he supported several National Training Center rotations, as well as theater and corps-level exercises in the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.

In May 2018, MAJ Nikides attended the Military Intelligence Captains Career Course (MICCC) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, where he graduated as an honor graduate. After MICCC, he was assigned as the assistant S-3 for the 24th Military Intelligence Battalion (Operations) in Wiesbaden, Germany. He later transferred to the 2nd Military Intelligence Battalion (Collection) and assumed command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment in October 2019, serving as commander until April 2021. 

Following command, MAJ Nikides served as the 66th Military Intelligence Brigade (Theater) plans officer, helping the brigade operationalize after the COVID-19 pandemic and pivot toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), Humanitarian Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, and the Air Assault Badge.

MAJ Nikides resides in Fort Montgomery, New York, with his dog, Clove.