Jason Nelms is a seasoned education and workforce development leader with more than 15 years of experience in Business Administration, Management, and training operations. His career began in the United States Army, where he served nearly eight years as a Paralegal Specialist and Supervisor. During his service, he supported high-stakes legal operations, supervised diverse teams, and earned multiple distinctions, including the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Chief of Staff Award for Legal Assistance, and a Meritorious Unit Commendation.
Jason holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management (Leadership concentration), an Associate of Science in Paralegal Studies, and Undergraduate Certificates in Employee Relations and Engagement and Instructional Design and Delivery from American Military University.
Jason joined Job Corps in 2014 and advanced through roles in student development, instructional delivery, and program management before moving into senior leadership. He has always had a goal to become a Center Director.
In 2024, he left Georgia and relocated to Denison, Iowa to be the Education and Training Director, placing him one step closer to being a Center Director. As the Education and Training Director, Jason led major improvements in academic and technical training outcomes. Under his guidance, the center achieved significant gains in HSD/HSE attainment, literacy, numeracy, and CTT credentials, contributing to the center’s overall ranking rising from 92nd to 65th. His focus on data-driven decision-making, strong partnerships, and high expectations helped strengthen program quality and student career readiness.
In November 2025, Jason became the new Center Director at the Denison Job Corps Center, where he strives for student success, staff success, and overall campus excellence. His leadership philosophy is grounded in the belief that “if our students do not succeed, then we as a center do not succeed.”