Nicole’s distinguished 21-year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole’s empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”

Nicole’s successful military career ended prematurely, as she was medically retired from service due to the impact of late stage, neurological, Tick Borne Illness. As a newly minted Wounded Warrior in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, she relishes any opportunity to talk about her medical journey and gains energy from educating others about the growing Tick Borne Illness epidemic. Prior to medical retirement, she focused her energy on becoming officially certified as both a Mentor and Ambassador in the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program. In these roles, she supports other wounded, ill, and injured service members through their recovery and transition to civilian life. Even as a veteran, she continues to work closely with the Air Force Wounded Warrior Program, mentoring several fellow patients throughout their personal journeys and coordinating events that enhance the camaraderie necessary for recovery.