TX-22: Troy Nehls (R)
PROFILE
About Nehls:
At the age of 19, Nehls enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was deployed on combat tours to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan, among other places. After 21 years of service, he retired with the rank of Major and as the recipient of two Bronze Star medals. Back home, he continued his service through law enforcement, a multi-generational tradition for his family.
In 1994, Nehls began his law enforcement service with Fort Bend ISD. He has spent the two decades since serving Fort Bend County in various law enforcement roles. From 2004 to 2012, he served two terms as the elected constable for Ft. Bend County Pct. 4. After two successful terms as constable, Troy was elected as Fort Bend County sheriff in 2012. He won re-election as sheriff in 2016 and will complete his second four-year term in December 2020.
In his eight years as sheriff, he instituted recidivism reduction programs like HVAC and welding training programs for non-violent Fort Bend County jail inmates so the inmates had job ready skills when they were released. He took steps to start a specialized mental health unit at the Sheriff’s Office to respond to mental health calls.
During Hurricane Harvey, Sheriff Nehls was out on air boats rescuing pets, rescuing residents, and helping deliver feed to farmer’s stranded cattle.
Nehls volunteers for many local groups around Fort Bend County. He is the chairman of the “Fort Bend Salutes America” Memorial Day ceremony, a life member and former commander of VFW Post 3903 in Rosenberg, and member of the Sugar Land Exchange Club, to name a few.
Troy resides in Richmond with his wife, Jill, daughters, Jenna, Cambry, and Tori, and their four dogs Archer, Buddy, Boo, and Lulu.
