Nate enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 2002, shortly after graduating from Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Illinois. He was assigned to the 1-27th Infantry Battalion at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2004. After completing the Special Forces Qualification Course in 2008, he joined the 19th Special Forces Group. In 2010, he transferred to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Over nearly eighteen years of service, he deployed eight times: four to Afghanistan, one to Iraq, two to Africa, and one to Kyrgyzstan. On January 14, 2020, while serving as operations sergeant for Operational Detachment–Alpha 3214, he died in a free-fall training accident in Arizona.

Adventurous and full of life, Nate was known for his humor, honesty, and willingness to help others. He was deeply devoted to his family, his career, and his country. He loved skydiving and camping and cherished every chance to teach his children meaningful life lessons.

His legacy lives on through his wife, Kelly; his children, Lilly and Ethan; and the many family members, friends, and fellow service members whose lives he touched.