NICK BROPHY
Patriot Boot Camp Director
DAV (Disabled American Veterans)

Nick Brophy, MBA, DAV Patriot Boot Camp Director, is a community builder,  economic developer and entrepreneur who has worked in and around the entrepreneurial ecosystem for more than 14 years. Nick is also a mustang Civil Affairs Officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, where his cumulative service includes earning the rank of Staff Sergeant before attending officer candidate school, where he commissioned as an Engineer Officer before transitioning to Civil Affairs. He now holds the rank of Major and after 23 years of service, is planning to retire in late 2023.  

After enlisting in the Kentucky National Guard in 2000, Nick went on to complete Basic Training and Advanced Individual training. After returning home, he began his education at Northern Kentucky University, where he later graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Psychology. Throughout that time, Nick was the COO of a small retail franchise serving the cellular market in Cincinnati, OH. There, he led three locations to becoming top performing stores nationally before being called to war in 2005, where he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

After completing several tours in the War on Terror, Nick turned his focus to his community where he got involved with State Government and local non-profits. This led him down the path of working with disabled Veterans as a case manager and later allowed him to turn his interest in economics into a role with a regional economic development agency. His exposure to community offered many new opportunities, one of which led him to get involved in community and urban revitalization efforts throughout Cincinnati. Nick was able to jumpstart commercial and residential development efforts and initiatives in blighted urban neighborhoods throughout the City of Cincinnati.

After serving in a variety of capacities from project manager to operations manager to mentor, Nick made his way over to his alma mater, Northern Kentucky University. Then, Nick founded a small business center within the Haile College of Business, the NKU BizAccessHub, which serves small business owners in many capacities through one-on-one business consulting and coaching services, along with education programs. Nick also founded, as a student at NKU, the NKU V.E.T.S. student organization, which is now known as the Veterans Resource Station.

Nick’s interests outside of DAV include coaching and mentoring in the areas of finance, real estate, and process improvement; competing in CrossFit and running events; home renovations and gardening; salsa dancing; and most importantly, being a good father and role model to his daughter.