CDR Nicholas Artabazon hails from Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from Randolph-Macon College in 2008 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Chemistry. He was commissioned in 2009 from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He holds a Master of Science degree in Applied Physics from Naval Postgraduate School. CDR Artabazon is a qualified Engineering Duty Officer (EDO) and Diving Officer.
CDR Artabazon qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS San Antonio (LPD 17) in Norfolk, Virginia, while serving as Main Propulsion Officer and Assistant Chief Engineer from March 2010 to September 2012. CDR Artabazon completed a second division officer tour as a Naval Liaison Officer in support of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving in Headquarters (G6), Commander III MEF in Okinawa, Japan from September 2012 to November 2014. During this tour, he was accepted for lateral transfer to EDO and received orders to Ship Repair Facility Japan Regional Maintenance Center (SRF-JRMC) in Yokosuka, Japan for his qualification tour. From November 2014 to September 2016, CDR Artabazon served as the Project Superintendent for USS John S McCain (DDG 56) and USS Antietam (CG 54). In October 2016, CDR Artabazon attended the Joint Diving Officer (JDO) course at the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, Panama City, Florida, where he completed Diving Officer training. After dive school, CDR Artabazon completed EDO qualifications and graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in June 2019.
Following his time at NPS, he served as the Test and Evaluation Department Head (N31) at the Navy Experimental Diving Unit in Panama City, Florida, overseeing unmanned evaluation of diving life support equipment. In July 2021, CDR Artabazon reported to Commander, United States Pacific Fleet (COMPACFLT), in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as the Diving and Salvage Officer (N434) where he orchestrated international salvage operations and served as a crisis planner in Current Operations (N31/COPS). Between September 2023 and February 2026, he served as the CRUDES Division Head and Advanced Planning Division Head at Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) in Norfolk, Virginia, responsible for the planning, maintenance, and modernization of Hampton-Roads based warships.
His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and various personal, unit and service awards.
CDR Artabazon is the 19th NEDU Commanding Officer.