Cheryl Nilsson

Cheryl Nilsson, Chief Executive Officer of First Nation Group, LLC, has worked in the federal government and defense industry for over 40 years. A retired Air Force officer, lawyer, and CPA, her experience managing diverse government and industry staffs while overseeing a full range of complex contractual, environmental, international, labor and fiscal matters, has proven invaluable to the growth of First Nation Group. Prior to joining First Nation Group, Nilsson served for 23 years on active duty as a United States Air Force Judge Advocate, retiring with the rank of Colonel. She went on to serve as the Vice President and Senior Counsel for engineering services contractors for the Department of Defense and NASA, specializing in government procurement.

The roots of First Nation Group were established when Nilsson and a like-minded group of Veterans and local business leaders in Michigan merged companies with the goal devoting the company’s assets to make a significant impact on the lives of Veterans and the underserved in the communities where our employees live and work. In doing so, First Nation Group’s mission as one of the largest Med-Surg distributors to the VA is to deliver superior products, service, and support while giving back generously.

Nilsson holds degrees from Purdue University, Wayne State University and George Washington University. She is married, with two sons serving in the military, and resides in Niceville, Florida, where First Nation Group is headquartered.