Nate was born in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, but his childhood was largely shaped by his time in Northern California, where he spent the majority of his formative years.
His educational background is marked by attendance at two distinct high schools, Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California, and Valley Christian High School in Dublin, California, where he eventually graduated.
However, Nate's path took a dramatic turn when he decided to volunteer as a relief worker in Sudan, where he played a crucial role in building camps for refugees displaced by the War in Darfur.
This experience, no doubt, had a profound impact on Nate, and it ultimately led him to join the U.S. Army, where he pursued a career in the Special Forces.
As an 18X, Nate was afforded the opportunity to attempt Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) immediately following basic combat training and airborne school, which he successfully completed.
He went on to become a member of the Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, and deployed multiple times to both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Throughout his six-year tenure in the military, Nate served with honor and distinction, earning a honorable discharge upon his eventual departure from active duty.