Michael Nyland is the Co-Founder and National Director of Compass Military Division, a nationwide network of real estate professionals committed to serving active-duty service members, veterans, and military families with integrity, competence, and genuine care.

With more than 25 years of service in the United States Navy, including nine years as a prior enlisted Sailor before commissioning as an officer, Michael brings a rare and well-rounded perspective to leadership and service. His career as a naval intelligence officer was shaped by firsthand experience across both enlisted and officer communities, giving him a deep appreciation for the challenges, pressures, and realities faced at every level of military life. He spent decades operating in complex, high-stakes environments where trust, accountability, and people-first decision-making were essential. Those same principles now guide his leadership within Compass Military Division and his work supporting military families during some of the most significant transitions of their lives.

Compass Military Division was built on lived experience. Michael and his wife, Shelley Nyland, navigated military life together for more than 18 years, with Shelley serving as a military spouse through deployments, PCS moves, long separations, and the constant demands placed on military families. Her strength, resilience, and leadership on the home front shaped Michael’s understanding that service is a family commitment—not an individual one. That perspective is foundational to how Compass Military Division operates and why it exists.

As National Director, Michael leads with a clear mission: build a trusted national community of professionals who truly understand the military lifestyle and are committed to serving families beyond the transaction. He believes real estate is not just about buying or selling a home—it is about providing stability, reducing stress, and helping families make confident decisions during times of transition.

Michael is also a father of three, his children have grown up within the realities of military life, reinforcing his belief that every decision made in leadership or business ultimately impacts a family. This perspective fuels his passion for helping others in any capacity—whether mentoring agents, guiding military families, or offering support beyond professional obligations.

At his core, Michael is driven by a commitment to impact lives however he can. He believes leadership carries a responsibility to serve, to listen, and to act with integrity. Success, to him, is measured not in titles or transactions, but in trust earned, people helped, and the positive difference made along the way. He lives by a principle he shares often with those he leads: never settle— for leadership, for service, or for the life you are building.