AFCEAN of the Month, June 2025
Col. Nichole Scott, USAF, has been an active member of AFCEA International since 2022; however, her interest in AFCEA dates back to 2021. Scott is the first female Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) detachment commander at Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and a licensed professional engineer through the state of Georgia. Inspired by her background and interest, she helped promote the formation and chartering of the AFCEA Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter. After the chapter was formed, she subsequently joined AFCEA and was eventually appointed as the director of membership on the chapter’s board of directors in 2023. In this position, Scott has excelled by establishing and building the chapter’s Recruiting and Retention Program.
Scott has expanded the Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter’s student memberships from 50 to more than 100 over the course of one year. Working in conjunction with AFCEA Member and Chapter Services, she has ensured the college-rich environment in the Lexington, Virginia, area has been reflected in the Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter’s membership. Membership retention activities she has led include contacting expiring members to encourage membership renewal, welcoming new members into the chapter and promoting express membership applications.
Scott has also led numerous recruiting activities at chapter events, including setting up recruiting tables, displaying chapter events and associated activities and scheduling ROTC-related events. The Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter’s recruitment success is largely due to Scott’s positive attitude while managing recruitment tables. She provides information at chapter events, reaches out to prospective members with insightful analysis and maintains existing member information for the chapter.
In her position as the chapter’s membership director, Scott has kickstarted chapter initiatives focused on ROTC leader engagement and development. She worked with the chapter to develop an annual luncheon event for the regional ROTC detachment commanders. Scott has driven and supported the AFCEA ROTC Honor Award program at VMI, ensuring annual awards to cadets are presented by AFCEA veterans, offering a networking connection for recipients. She also developed a strategy for initiatives to coordinate recruitment events for both cadets and students from regional universities and organizations.
Scott’s efforts have contributed to the growth and success of the Rockbridge Shenandoah Chapter and are reflected in the chapter receiving the 2025 Model Chapter Award and the Albert J. Meyer Chapter Award for Individual Member Recruiting. Scott’s achievements and service with the chapter are exceptional.
