Sergeant Major Nicholas J. Underwood was born February 5th 1978 in Hendersonville, North Carolina. He attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina from December 1998 and graduated February 1999. Upon graduating recruit training he was trained at Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. He was meritorious promoted to Private First Class upon completion of his training. After training, he went to his military occupational specialty schooling, Supply Warehousing Enlisted Basic Course, aboard Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools, Camp Johnson, North Carolina.
In May of 1999 Private First Class Underwood received orders to Combat Service Support Group 3, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. During his tour in Hawaii, Private First Class Underwood held the billets of a Supply Clerk, Storage Warehouse Shipping Non-Commission Officer (NCO), and also performed the duties of the Assistant Warehouse Chief. Private First Class Underwood earned his promotion to Lance Corporal. In December of 2001, Corporal Underwood executed orders to Marine Air Logistics Squadron-36, Marine Air Group-36, Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Okinawa, Japan. During this tour he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.
In December of 2002, Sergeant Underwood received orders to serve with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Service Company, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island where he served as the Platoon Sergeant for the Depot Clothing section as well as Depot Color Sergeant. During his tour of duty Sergeant Underwood was recognized as the Marine of the Year, and awarded from the Charleston Exchange Club in 2005.In October of 2005 to October 2008, while stationed aboard Paris Island Recruit Depot, Sergeant Underwood received orders to Drill Instructor School. Upon graduation, Sergeant Underwood began his tour of training recruits with Bravo Company, 1st Recruit Training Battalion and finished as a Senior Drill Instructor with Quebec Company, 3rd Battalion. It was during this tour of duty where Sergeant Underwood joined the Staff Non-Commissioned Officer ranks.
In October 2008 to February 2011, Staff Sergeant Underwood was attached to Marine Air Logistics Squadron-31, Marine Air Group-31. He worked at Marine Corps Property Issue Point where he served as the Warehouse Chief. Also during this tour of duty, Staff Sergeant Underwood deployed for a year in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a voluntary Individual Augment with a Military Integration Transition Team.
In March 2011, Staff Sergeant Underwood executes orders to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina where he was attached to 2d Supply Battalion, 2D Marine Logistics Group. Staff Sergeant Underwood, he deployed to Afghanistan in the fall of 2011, he served as the Headquarters and Service Company, Company Gunnery Sergeant and later the Company First Sergeant for the same Company. Staff Sergeant Underwood’s earned an accelerated promotion to the rank of Gunnery Sergeant While stationed at 2D Supply Battalion, Staff Sergeant Underwood was awarded the Military Citizenship Award from Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce as Service Member of the Year in April.
In April 2013, Gunnery Sergeant Underwood reported to Officer Candidates School, located at Quantico, Virginia, where he served as a Sergeant Instructor, Platoon Sergeant, Drill Master and Test and Evaluation Chief. Through the successful completion of his second tour of Drill Instructor duty he was selected to the rank of First Sergeant.In January 2016 to March 2017, First Sergeant reported to Headquarters and Service Battalion, Combat Development Company, located at Quantico, Virginia where he served as, the Company First Sergeant. During his tour he was selected to be the first Senior Enlisted Marine to attend and graduate from Joint Forces Staff College (JFSC). In March 2017 to December 2018, First Sergeant Underwood reported to Combat Logistic Company 23; Combat Logistics Regiment 25, located at Beaufort South Carolina.
During his tour deployed to Norway as the Battalion Sergeant Major; for Combat Logistic Battalion 251 in direct support of Trident Juncture 2018 (TRJE 18) the largest NATO exercise since 2015.Since January 2019, First Sergeant Underwood reported to, Recruit Training Regiment, Marine Corps Recruit Depot/Eastern Recruiting Region, Parris Island, South Carolina, as Company K, Third Recruit Training Battalion Company First Sergeant. Making it, his third special duty assignment (SDA) as a drill instructor, during this tour he was selected to the rank of Sergeant Major he served as the Third Recruit Training Battalion; Sergeant Major, he is currently assigned to Support Battalion; as the Battalion Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Underwood’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (gold star in lieu of third award), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (gold star in lieu of fifth award), Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Award (bronze star in lieu of second award),. Sergeant Major Underwood holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Arts degree in Executive Leadership Business (MBA). He is married to the former Nicole Walker of Brevard, North Carolina. They have three children, two daughters Illyona, Niyana and a son Nycholas.