Donald L. Nelson was sworn-in as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs (Manpower and Personnel) on April 28, 2008. He serves as the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs for all National Guard and Reserve manpower, personnel and compensation policies; including Reserve component manpower requirements and utilization, personnel programs and management, the official Reserve component personnel database and system, Reserve medical readiness and programs, and development of legislation affecting Guard and Reserve manpower, personnel and compensation.

Mr. Nelson previously served as the Deputy Attorney General for the State of California, a position he held from 2000 until his current appointment.  Prior to that, he was a business attorney in private practice for eight years following a varied and successful career as a corporate attorney and, ultimately, the managing partner for the San Francisco branch office of a statewide law firm, responsible for all business development activities.  

Mr. Nelson is also a retired U. S. Navy Reserve officer, having served in the Navy Reserve from 1968 through 2002.  He served in the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm as the Navy’s only representative in theatre on the Department of Defense War Crimes Documentation Commission.  

Mr. Nelson has a B.A. (with honors) in Economics and Political Science from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin, with State Bar of California admission and District of Columbia admission both in 1978.

Mr. Nelson is active in a wide range of youth and civic activities including the Boy Scouts of America and organized sports.