Nels was born at Kanakanak hospital and has been a life-long resident of Bristol Bay.   He graduated from Dillingham Territorial High School, served in the US Air Force as a Communications Specialist/Cryptographer and later earned his BA Degree in Sociology from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.

Nels has worked as both a commercial fisherman and a tender deck hand.  His professional career has also included a variety of leadership positions at RurAL CAP, United Bank of Alaska, Alaska Federation of Natives, Bristol Bay Native Association, Bristol Bay Native Corporation and Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation, among others.

He was elected to the Alaska State House of Representatives from 1974-1980, where he served as Majority Leader and House Resources Committee Chairman.  He was appointed by Governor Jay Hammond to fill a vacancy in the Alaska State Senate from 1982-83. 

At the local level, he served on the Dillingham City Council for six years and also served on the Bristol Bay Campus Advisory Council for 20 years.  He has been an advocate and lobbyist for many years and has been an advisor to Governor Murkowski on oil and gas leasing as well as developing low cost energy strategies for Rural Alaska. 

He is also the former chair of the Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference Energy Task Force.

Nels and his wife Dorothy split their time between Dillingham and Anchorage where they enjoy visiting with their children and four grandchildren. They have a new grandchild who was born in Singapore in November, 2007.

And finally, Nels is the former Alaska Energy Policy Advisor to the Murkowski and Palin Administrations. His final report regarding Energy Policy and a suggested plan of action can be found at  bbna.com.