Two in the Fight: Military Wife

Daniel Nichols, Co-Creator Good Ham Productions

A serial entrepreneur and creative artist, Daniel’s creative career began at an early age with investments in music, art and acting in the Pittsburgh area.

Chaplain Nichols served as a Navy Reserve Officer for over 16 years (Lieutenant Commander) and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having deployed to Iraq with U.S. Marine Corps forces in 2003 and for which he was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal. Chaplain Nichols’ service included assignments as the Executive Assistant for the Navy’s Deputy Chief of Chaplains for Reserve Affairs, and as the Deputy Supervisory Chaplain for the Coast Guard 5th District.

His creative interests combined with entrepreneurial endeavors after his return from combat where he wrote and partnered with producers and musicians out of Nashville to launch a benefit concert series titled, “Patriot Day Live” that raised support and awareness for veterans recovering from combat-related injuries including PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury and featured concerts at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC and opening acts for Daughtry and the USO.

Daniel’s career and influence stretched into film in the creation and release of, “Military to Medicine: New American Country in Tribute to the Military Wife.” featuring several up and coming Nashville Artists and bands. Additionally, he supported the Congressional screening and distribution of the wartime documentary, “Where Soldiers Come From,” which garnered awards from numerous film festivals, including SXSW and the LA Film Festival.

Portions of Daniel’s war-time memoir were published in a compendium titled, “Battlefields and Blessings: Stories of Faith and Courage in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his service as a Navy chaplain were featured in a book by author Jane Hampton Cook in 2006.
Together with his co-creators Mike Atchley and Joleen Fresquez, Good Ham Productions was launched as a creative consortium for their audio fiction, publishing and musical projects that include the award winning, “Chronicles of Eridul” and “Dawn of Dragons” audio dramas. The first novel based on these series was authored by Daniel and released in 2021 titled, “Charlie Saves Christmas.”
Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree from Grove City College, a Master of Arts in Counseling and Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Daniel resides in Pittsburgh, PA with his wife Rachael and puppy Penny, he is the proud father of four children, three of whom are married and all of whom have supported and participated in his creative endeavors.