Carl Nelson

Author Biography

Carl Nelson

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carl Nelson was educated at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He also holds a Master of Science degree in economics/systems analysis, and a doctorate in international finance and trade. He is listed in Who’s Who in California, 1989, Who’s Who in America, 2006, Who’s Who in American Education, 2006, and Who’s Who in the World, 2007.

During his first career, Carl rose from enlisted recruit to highly decorated U.S. Navy Captain. He served in many demanding staff positions and commanded five combat organizations including the guided missile cruiser U.S.S. Worden CG 18, the frigate U.S.S. Cook FF 1083, and the fleet salvage vessel U.S.S. Cocopa ATF 101. He served four tours of duty in the Vietnam War one of which was for one year as Senior Advisor to the commander of combat riverine operations in the Rung Sat Special Zone (RSSZ) and Logistics base at Nha Be. His war decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with combat V, two Air Medals, the Combat Action Medal and 14 others.

Carl’s second career as a professor and writer has spanned twenty-nine years. During that time he was the professor of international business at the California International Business University (CIBU) and has been awarded that school’s Distinguished Educator Award. Seven of his works of non-fiction, three novels and more than fifty short stories, articles, and technical papers have been published. He has also written poetry, a movie script, and a stage play. He is a member of the Authors Guild of America, PEN USA, and is a life member of and twice served as president of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild.

His long fiction includes: Madam President and the Admiral, 2008, a political/military/romance thriller that was nominated for a Pulitzer; His novel Secret Players, won the San Diego Book Awards Association prize of “best thriller” of 2003. His first novel, The Advisor (Cô-Vân), is a Vietnam War thriller that won the 1989 Southern California Writers Conference’s award for “best fiction.”

His published non-fiction books include: Import/Export: How to Take Your Business Across Borders, 2009, 4th Edition, McGraw-Hill (This book is America’s “best selling, most popular book” for its purpose); also Your Own Import-Export Business: Winning the Trade Game (GBTC, 1988); Global Success; International Business Tactics of the 1990s (TAB-McGraw-Hill, 1990); and Managing Globally: A Complete Guide to Competing Worldwide (Irwin, 1994).

His three book Global Manager Series, published by International Thomson Business Press, includes: Protocol For Profit: A Manager's Guide to Competing Worldwide, 1998; International Business: A Manager's Guide to Strategy in the Age of Globalism, 1998; and Exporting: A Manager's Guide to The World Market, 1999.

In June 2004, Carl won “first Prize” from the San Diego African American Writers & Artists, for his short story titled, Bokassa Johnson.

Carl and his wife Dolores are accomplished world travelers, having, in addition to his travels with Navy and hers with the Air Force, toured 15 countries in the past three years.